Orlando Pace Orlando Lamar Pace ( born November 4 , 1975 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League ( NFL ) for thirteen seasons . He played college football for The Ohio State University , and was twice recognized as an All - American . He was drafted by the St . Louis Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft , and he played professionally for the Rams for twelve years . Pace started all 16 regular season games eight times in his pro career , and blocked for three straight NFL MVPs ( Kurt Warner in 1999 , 2001 ; and Marshall Faulk in 2000 ) . He was the cornerstone of a Rams offensive line that blocked for an offense that compiled more gross yards than any other team during his 12 years in St . Louis ( 50 , 770 in 12 seasons ) , finished second in completion percentage ( 61 . 8 percent ) and fifth in touchdown passes ( 289 ) over that time . Under Pace ' s protection , the Rams ' passing offense compiled more than 3 , 000 yards in all 12 of his NFL seasons , seven different quarterbacks eclipsed the 3 , 000 - yard mark in a season , including three times surpassing the 4 , 000 - yard mark , and also blocked for seven 1 , 000 - yard rushers . Pace started 154 consecutive games . A five - time All - Pro and seven - time Pro Bowl selection , Pace earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV . He has also played for the Chicago Bears . Early years . Pace was born in Sandusky , Ohio . He was a two - sport athlete for the Sandusky Blue Streaks at Sandusky High School . He was named to the " Parade " magazine high school All - America team as an offensive lineman and the " USA Today " All - America team as a defensive lineman . Pace added all - Ohio second - team honors as junior and averaged 18 points as the center on the Blue Streaks ' 22 – 3 basketball team . College career . Pace attended The Ohio State University , where he played for The Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1993 to 1996 . He was only the second true freshman ever to start on opening day for the Buckeyes football team . He was a two - time consensus first - team All - American , and won the Outland Trophy in 1996 for the best college football interior lineman . He won the Lombardi Award for the best college lineman or linebacker in 1995 and 1996 , becoming the only two - time winner of that award . He is one of only twelve players to have won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award . He and Dave Rimington are the only three - time winners in the Outland / Lombardi category . He was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy , finishing fourth in the voting , the highest finish for a lineman ( offense or defense ) since Hugh Green finished second in 1980 . Pace also lined up at defensive tackle during some goal line situations during his junior year at Ohio State . He was so dominant that the term " pancake block " — referring to when an offensive lineman knocks a defender on his back — gained popularity at Ohio State due to his play . He was nicknamed " The Pancake Man . " Several other college teams have been using the term since the 1980s , most notably Nebraska . In fact , the Ohio State Athletic Department distributed Orlando Pace pancake magnets as a promotion for his Heisman Trophy run . Pace did not allow a sack in his last two years at Ohio State . He was a Business major . In 1999 , Pace was selected as a starting offensive tackle by " Sports Illustrated " in their " NCAA Football All - Century Team " . The other starting offensive tackle on that list was Bill Fralic . The second and third team offensive tackles were Ron Yary , George Connor , Dan Dierdorf and Bob Gain . Pace was one of five Ohio State Buckeye ' s on Sport Illustrated ' s All - Century Team 85 - man roster ; the others being Jim Parker , Archie Griffin , Chris Spielman and Jack Tatum . In 2013 , he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame . Professional career . 1997 NFL Draft . After Peyton Manning chose to skip the 1997 NFL Draft and return to Tennessee , Pace was considered to be the top candidate for the Jets ′ selection at No . 1 in the draft . The Jets eventually traded their top pick to the Rams one day before the draft . Pace was picked by Rams as the first offensive lineman since Ron Yary in 1968 to be drafted first overall . St . Louis Rams . After a three - week holdout , on August 15 , 1997 Pace signed a seven - year $ 29 . 4 million contract that included a $ 6 . 3 million signing bonus . Pace played 13 games during the 1997 season , his rookie year . He made his first start against the Oakland Raiders on September 28 , 1997 and started every game for the rest of the season . In 1998 , Pace started 16 games at left tackle and was named Pro Bowl alternate . In the 1999 season , Pace played in 896 of 994 offensive plays and was elected to his first Pro Bowl . It was the first time that a Rams ' offensive tackle was named to the Pro Bowl since Jackie Slater in 1990 . Pace was also a First - team All - Pro for the Super Bowl winning Rams . In the 2000 Season , Pace earned second consecutive Pro Bowl invitation , starting all 16 regular season games and 1 playoff game . Pace was anchor of offensive line that helped offense produce most passing yards in NFL history , playing in 1 , 006 of possible 1 , 013 offensive plays ( 99 . 3 percent ) , second highest total on offensive line . Pace was one of three Rams ’ offensive linemen ( C Andy McCollum , RT Ryan Tucker ) who were not penalized for holding . In 2001 , Pace started every game for four consecutive seasons . He played in 100 percent of offensive plays , joining Adam Timmerman as the only Rams to play in every offensive play . He started all 3 playoff contests , the St . Louis Rams claimed the NFC West title and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI falling to New England Patriots , 20 - 17 . He earned third consecutive Pro Bowl invitation . In 2002 , despite missing six games due to injury ( three to calf injury games 4 - 6 ; three to hamstring games 13 - 16 ) , Pace earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation . Pace had a lengthy holdout by reporting to camp on August 26 , 2003 , and signing a one - year deal as the Rams franchise player . The deal was worth $ 5 . 7 million . In 2003 , Pace started all 16 regular season games and 1 playoff game , he helped the Rams ’ offense to rank second in the NFL with an average of 27 . 9 points a game . He earned a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation as the Rams claimed their third NFC West title in five years . On September 5 , 2004 , Pace ended another holdout and signed the Rams ' $ 7 . 02 million offer . It marked the second straight year Pace missed most or all of the preseason before signing his one - year tender . By designating Pace as a franchise player , the Rams were obligated to pay him the average salary of the five highest - paid offensive linemen in the NFL . Pace went on to start all 16 regular season games at left tackle and both playoff games . He was one of three linemen to start every game ( C Andy McCollum , G Adam Timmerman ) and blocked for an offense that ranked eighth in the NFL ( third in the NFC ) in first downs ( 321 ) . Pace helped Rams convert 13 - of - 16 fourth down attempts , second highest fourth - down conversion percentage in the NFL ( 68 . 4 % ) . He earned his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl invitation . Pace was a free agent in 2005 and explored the possibility of signing with another team . The Rams placed the franchise tag on Pace again . In March he visited the Houston Texans . The problem for Pace and the Texans was that if they work out an agreement , the Texans would have had to agree with the Rams on a compensation package , which would be two first - round draft choices which the Rams would be entitled to under the franchise - player rules . However , the day before a deadline , the Pace accepted a seven - year , $ 52 . 9 million deal . The deal included $ 18 million in first - year salary and bonus . In 2005 , he earned seventh consecutive Pro Bowl invitation , tying him for fourth in Rams history , behind Hall of Famer DT Merlin Olsen ( 14 ) , Hall of Famer G Tom Mack ( 11 ) , and LB Les Richter ( 8 ) . That season , Pace started all 16 games at left tackle , joining C Andy McCollum and G Adam Timmerman as only Rams linemen to start every game . In 2006 , Pace started the 8 games he appeared in until he left in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on November 12 , 2006 after he tore his triceps , ending his 2006 season . He was placed on Injured Reserve on November 14 . Pace was injured during the Rams ' 2007 season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 9 , 2007 . Officials confirmed that Pace would be out for the entire 2007 season , severely jeopardizing the Rams ' offense for the remainder of the season . In 2008 Pace played in and started 14 games , missing only two with an injury , compared to the 15 he missed in 2007 and the 8 he missed in 2006 . However the Rams struggled on the field and their head coach Scott Linehan was fired mid - season and the team fared little better under interim head coach Jim Haslett and the team finished 2 - 14 . Dogged by injuries in recent seasons , Pace was released by the Rams on March 10 , 2009 , to save $ 6 million under the salary cap . Chicago Bears . Pace signed a three - year $ 15 million deal ( the guaranteed portion is $ 6 . 1 million ) , with the Chicago Bears on April 2 , 2009 . Pace started the first 11 games at left tackle in his lone season with the Bears in 2009 before sustaining a groin injury on November 29 in a loss to the Vikings . He later finished the year as a reserve behind promising 2008 first - round draft pick Chris Williams . He was released on March 1 , 2010 . In his 13 - year career , Pace was paid just over $ 75 million in salary and bonuses . Personal . Pace owns " Big O ' s Ltd " in his home town of Sandusky , Ohio . It is a family - friendly sports bar located on W . Perkins Avenue . Pace likes to make appearances at his restaurant , occasionally signing autographs for his hometown fans . He also owns several homes in McArthur Park in Sandusky that he rents out to low income families . Orlando is also known for being a spokesman for Our Little Haven ' s ' Safe & Warm ' expansion project since 1998 . He also donates five tickets to every home game for disadvantaged kids . He was spokesman for Diversity Awareness Partnership in St . Louis along with former Rams teammate Ryan Tucker in 2000 . He currently resides in Weldon Spring , Missouri . Pace was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 30 , 2013 , at the Pasadena Convention Center .