Steve Stonebreaker

Thornton Steve Stonebreaker[1] (October 28, 1938 – March 28, 1995) was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted out of the University of Detroit in the 1961 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings as a tight end. He played one season at tight end before switching over to the defensive side of the ball as a linebacker for the rest of his career. He played a total of seven seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings (1962–1963), the Baltimore Colts (1964–1966), and the New Orleans Saints (1967–1968). Steve was drafted by the Saints in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft and was one of the original New Orleans Saints players. He was also a football actor in the 1969 Charlton Heston movie Number One featuring the New Orleans Saints.[2]

Steve Stonebreaker
No. 82, 31, 37
Position:Tight End, Linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1938-10-28)October 28, 1938
Moline, Illinois
Died:March 28, 1995(1995-03-28) (aged 56)
Metairie, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Utica (MI)
College:University of Detroit
NFL Draft:1961 / Round: 12 / Pick: 155
AFL Draft:1962 / Round: 34 / Pick: 266
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played–started:84–56
Interceptions:2
Fumble recoveries:7
Receptions:12
Receiving yards:227
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

During his professional career, Steve Stonebreaker played all 14 games each year except for 1966 and 1967 when he played only 4 and 10 games, respectively.[3] He played in the 1964 NFL Championship Game as a member of the 12–2 Baltimore Colts but lost 27–0 to Cleveland Browns.

After he retired from football, Steve Stonebreaker had several jobs including serving as a New Orleans Saints color commentator for WWL Radio from 1973 to 1975.[4][5] He later opened a restaurant called Stonebreaker's at 2700 Edenborn Avenue in the Metairie district of New Orleans.[6] Stonebreaker's specialties were barbecue baby back pork ribs and crabcakes which he learned to make when he played for the Baltimore Colts. The interior decor of the restaurant was NFL memorabilia. The restaurant closed shortly after his death.[7]

At the time of his sad demise, the restaurant was in financial trouble and Stonebreaker may have learned that his previously diagnosed cancer had returned.[8] Steve Stonebreaker committed suicide on March 28, 1995, at the age of 56, by subjecting himself to carbon monoxide poisoning from a car exhaust.[9]

His son Mike Stonebreaker graduated from Notre Dame University and played professional football for 3 years in total. He was with the Chicago Bears in 1991 and then the New Orleans Saints in 1994. Mike won an NFL Europe (WLAF, World League) championship World Bowl III with the Frankfurt Galaxy in 1995.

Steve and Mike are one of only four father/son combos to have both played for the New Orleans Saints.[10]

References
  1. Social Security Death Index
  2. "Number One". IMDb.
  3. "Steve Stonebreaker Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. "Deuce McAllister joins New Orleans Saints radio network, will replace Hokie Gajan as color analyst".
  5. "List of New Orleans Saints broadcasters".
  6. "New Orleans Menu".
  7. Lost Restaurants of New Orleans, Peggy Scott Laborde and Tom. Fitzmorris, IBN 978-1-5980-977-0, Pelican Publishing Company, Inc.
  8. "Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic".
  9. SPORTS BRIEFS|Milwaukee Journal
  10. https://www.profootballhof.com/assets/1/6/FATHER-SON_April_21_2016.pdf
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