Omaha Westside grad, Nebraska football and NFL legend Pat Fischer dies at 84

Pat Fischer was the little guy with the big plays.

“Out there on the field, Pat thinks he weighs about 260 pounds,’’ a pro football teammate said.

In reality, Fischer was generously listed as 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds.

The NFL’s shortest cornerback of his time, the native of St. Edward who played for Oakland, Omaha Westside and NU, made 56 interceptions in 213 games over 17 seasons.

He was first-team All-Pro twice and played in three Pro Bowls with St. Louis and Washington.

Fischer, 84, died Tuesday in suburban Washington, D.C.

“The Washington Commanders mourn the loss of Pat Fischer. Fischer was one of the greatest defensive backs in franchise history, ranking in the top 10 in both interceptions and interception return yardage,” Washington said in a statement. “Fischer is a member of the Washington Ring of Fame and was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl-caliber player for the franchise during his 10-year career with Washington from 1968-77.

“Fischer’s contributions to the team on the field and in our community will never be forgotten. We send our heartfelt condolences to Pat’s daughter, Allison Shannon, his son, Marty Fischer, and the rest of Pat’s family and friends at this time.”

Fischer was the eighth of nine children, and second youngest of six sons, in the Joe and Viola Fischer family. The Fischers moved in 1950 to Oakland, where Pat’s brother Ken was coach, then to Omaha in 1955 when Pat was entering his junior year.

At that time, Ken was coaching at Blair and another brother, Cletus, at Omaha South. Pat went to Westside, which hired his father as a custodian.

Pat was All-Nebraska in 1956, following Cletus, Ken and Rex as all-staters. He followed their path to NU.

With the Huskers, Fischer played safety and running back. Sometimes he was the quarterback.

“When we played single wing, I was the tailback,’’ he said. “When we moved into the T formation, I played quarterback and that was a disaster.”

Fischer was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Punt returns were his forte. A 61-yarder, setting up NU’s final touchdown in the 25-21 win over Oklahoma in 1959 that ended the Sooners’ 74-game conference winning streak. A 76-yarder that sparked a 14-13 win at Texas in 1960 (he accounted for NU’s scoring). A then-school record 84-yarder against Oklahoma State in 1960.

He still has the Husker record for career punt return average (18.33 yards).

St. Louis took him with its 17th-round pick. Of his seven seasons with the Cardinals, when he was All-Pro once and in the Pro Bowl twice, 1964 was his best. He had a career-high 10 interceptions, including two pick-6s.

Football historians say Fischer originated the bump and run technique. He said he was told to do it by a position coach.

“All the defenses would bring their cornerbacks closer when the offense got down to the goal line for obvious reasons, he said. “So our backs coach had us start getting closer to the line of scrimmage all the time. I couldn’t do it at 3 or 4 yards, so I just got right up to the line.”

A stockbroker in the offseason, he played out his option after the 1967 season. Unable to come to salary terms with St. Louis, he signed with Washington.

He was All-Pro in his first season. His 27 interceptions and 412 career interception return yards rank seventh and fourth all-time, respectively, in franchise history.

He was a main cog in George Allen’s “Over the Hill Gang” during Washington’s first run to the Super Bowl. He was second-team All-Pro that season after getting five takeaways.

A back injury led to his retirement after the 1977 season. The Pro Football Writers of America honored him the following year with its George Halas Award for an NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.

While Fischer’s interception total remains among the top 20 in NFL history, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has bypassed him.

“My name has come up before, but when you’re relying on all those writers from all the different cities, who knows about the politics involved?’’ he said. “Personally, I think I deserve to be in there, but who knows what it takes to get there?”