Joe Valerio was told by coaches that he was too nice to play football, a friendly and outgoing guy from Ridley, Pennsylvania. But this nice guy who knew “how to turn it off and on” became a football legend at Penn and a role model to all, and deservingly his name will be engraved into Penn’s prestigious Hall of Fame this weekend.

Being born into an athletic family with three brothers involved in different sports and a professional boxer father, Valerio was bound to play sports and was torn between baseball and football.

“Actually, I thought that I was going to play baseball in college. Baseball was always the sport I thought I was better at,” says Valerio, who received some recruiting attention and attended several pro tryout camps.

However, he always enjoyed football more ? even as a baseball player, he played catcher his whole career because it was “the most ?physical’ of the positions.”

Valerio was introduced to competitive football early on, first by his brothers in their staged living room games and then through organized football at six, when he played for the 65 lb. hometown athletic association.

“My greatest Christmas present ever was a Joe Namath football uniform from the local toy store,” he said. “You know, the kind that says if you use it in competitive play you risk serious injury. I used to take that uniform out in the backyard and play every position on the field, including coach. I always scored the game winning touchdowns in the Super Bowl.

“It was a harsh reality when I found out that I was going to be a lineman for the next 22 years,” he continued. “Most of the time, I only heard my name announced for penalties, not being the star quarterback. I learned that it was more than just being an individual star, it was about knowing your role, being the best you can be and contributing to the team.”

Valerio may have played coach as a kid, but he was foremost a player coached by many throughout his football career. "I personally have always responded well to positive coaches who really make an effort to get to know what motivates you individually. Great coaches know what motivates their players," he says. The coach that had the biggest impact on him was his high school offensive line coach, Carl Schnellenbach, who to this day stands as a bobble head on his office desk as a motivational figure.

“He was always colorful, and he was a tough coach to play for, but you always knew he cared about you and that his intentions were to make you a great player,” Valerio said. “In high school we were always the best conditioned team thanks to him, and he was very good at weeding out the players that didn’t really care. I really respect him.”

By senior year of high school Valerio was looking into schools, mostly Ivies as well as William & Mary and Bucknell. He had been a big fan of the 1986 Penn football team: “they were the team that went undefeated during my senior year in high school. They were highly publicized and had some great athletes on that team such as Marty Peterson who was an All-America tackle and Steve Buonato, who was the captain and center on a terrific offensive line. They were truly inspirational, and I dreamed of being like them. When I would see that team play, I used to think how great it would be to be a part of a tradition like that,” he said.

Not surprisingly, once Penn showed interest in him, he couldn’t resist.

“I can’t tell you how excited I was when I received my first recruiting letter from Coach Ed Zubrow. I almost knew instantly that Penn was the place for me,” said Valerio.

From then on it was all business. “In college, I was able to put on 70 pounds from the time I came in as a freshman to when I graduated. Our strength coach, Charlie Packman, taught me how to get tough in the weight room and eat well. He once threw a bunch of bananas on my tray at dinner and said, ?Hey Valerio, ever see a small gorilla?’” reflects Valerio.

Playing in historic stadiums like Franklin Field, The Yale Bowl, and Harvard Stadium were probably some of the most memorable Ivy League experiences for him, as well as the realization that all his opponents on the Ivy teams were great players who loved football enough to give up scholarship opportunities to pursue a top-notch education. That in itself was something special about being a part of the League.

“Coming into Penn, all I wanted to do was play,” Valerio said. “I was an offensive tackle my whole career. I also handled the long snapping duties on punts and field goals. I used to dream of playing in the NFL, and would often tell myself that anything is possible, but I didn't consider it a reality until after my junior year when some scouts from the NFL began to contact me and come to Penn and offer me workouts.”
Valerio was drafted by Kansas City straight after graduation and played for the Chiefs for five seasons before moving to the St. Louis Rams in 1996.

“In the NFL, it was my job, and the league is so competitive, you can’t let anyone get an edge on you,” he said. “Our training regimen was intense, and you couldn’t afford to take a break; otherwise you would get passed by.

“The hardest adjustment was battling players with the combination of speed, strength and agility,” he continued. “While the Ivy League was full of some really talented athletes, there just wasn’t the abundance of players that combined all of those attributes. The NFL was loaded with guys who combined all of those attributes like Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas, or other guys I played against like Reggie White or Howie Long. Every player was big, fast and strong, and the speed and tempo of the game took me a year or two to adjust to. I had the opportunity to play every position on the offensive line as well as tight end, and I also handled the long snapping duties,” says Valerio of his broad experience.

“The biggest win I remember was beating the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in 1994,” he recollects. “Our coach, Marty Schottenheimer, had never won in Denver and we really wanted to win one for him. Joe Montana was spectacular, as was the opposing John Elway. I was lucky enough to score a touchdown reception from Montana early in the third quarter. We won the game on a last-minute drive. It was recently voted to the top five Monday Night Games of all time.

“The best result I remember was beating the Houston Oilers on the road in the playoffs in a game that got us to the AFC Championship in 1993. We were big underdogs, and Houston had won 11 games in a row. Joe Montana couldn’t miss, and Marcus Allen ran his legs off. We showed up at the Kansas City airport around three o’clock in the morning, and there were at least 20,000 fans there to greet us.”

After six seasons of high level football, Valerio’s body took its toll with a back injury, which sidelined him for a preaseason during which he was picked up and released by the Rams.

“I guess I’d like to say that, for some players, it’s just their time to leave,” he said. “You hate to admit it, but bigger players, faster and more talented players come along and it just ends. However, things always work out for a reason, and I was able to be with my wife through the delivery of our daughters.”

The first thing Valerio did after pro football retirement was consult his Penn “Network” for some help exploring career options.
“One of the greatest things I can say about Penn was the incredible amount of Penn people who were willing to help me during the transition from football,” he admitted. “The Penn network extends into every industry imaginable, and allowed me the opportunity to explore a multitude of options.”

Valerio and his family also moved back to their home state of Pennsylvania. He is currently a Senior Vice President and Regional Service Officer for Willis, a global insurance brokerage and consulting firm, and happily married to his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, for 13 years.

“She is my best friend and my hero,” he said. “She always keeps me motivated and never lets me give up. I have seen a lot of tough football players in my life, but nothing will ever compare to what she went through during her pregnancy with our triplet daughters, during those six weeks in the hospital in the Trendelenburg position, 30 degrees upside down.

“We have triplet daughters, Taylor, Hailey and Madison, who are in third grade and play basketball, softball and are competitive cheerleaders among many other activities," says Valerio, who promises to support them with the kind of support he received from his father, who is also his idol in life.

“My dad was a hard-working guy who provided for us and always provided me a supportive environment. He never let me think that that there was anything I couldn’t accomplish.”

Obviously a Quakers and a Chiefs fan, Valerio cheers on both teams, but nothing compared to the time when he realized his dream and got to play against his all-time favorite team, the Eagles.

“During my second season in KC, we played the Eagles, and I thought I was going to faint when I saw the Eagles helmets come out of the tunnel,” he admits. “I couldn’t believe I was getting the chance to play against them.”

He also enjoys watching Penn games.

“These guys are miles ahead of where we were when we got to Penn. I can’t believe how big they are and what good athletes are out there on Franklin Field. Coach Bagnoli is a wonderful man and great coach. As for pro potential, any of the kids that go through the program can make it if they want to,” claims Valerio, who nevertheless stresses the importance of a great education.

“No matter how much you deny it, your career will end and you have to be prepared to move on,” he said. “Having my education was the single most important thing that got me through the transition to the ?real world.’”

As far as advice for the current Quakers, Valerio suggests being compliant and hardworking and staying healthy, because “if you are not on the field, the coaches can’t see you and they tend to forget; sort of ?out of sight, out of mind.’”

Joe Valerio had great potential, and with his work ethic and self belief he has lived up to many expectations, is well loved by fans and friends alike, and truly serves as a great role model. Through Penn, he has gained the mastery that took him to the next level of athletics, made lasting friendships, and got a great education that set off his professional career. There is no one more deserving of being in Penn’s Hall of Fame than Joe Valerio.

“This honor means the world to me,” he said. “There are so many people that I want to thank for their support throughout my athletic career. Without them this never would have been possible. Never in a million years did I think, as a skinny freshman walking onto Franklin Field in 1987, that I would be worthy of an honor like this. To be considered along men like George Munger, Chuck Bednarik, Reds Bagnell, George Savitsky and so many Penn greats takes my breath away.”

Valerio’s achievements take away ours.

Written by Julia Koulbitskaya