Frederic Charles Smerlas (born April 8, 1957) is a former American football defensive lineman who was a five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection during a 14-year career as a nose tackle with the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots.
Smerlas, of Greek-American descent, graduated from Waltham High School in 1975, where he was a star football player and wrestler.
He became a defensive lineman for Boston College before embarking on an NFL career.
Smerlas' 1990 autobiography, By a Nose, recounts his eleven years with the Bills and their climb from cellar-dwellers to Super Bowl contenders.
Smerlas currently resides in Massachusetts and is a part-time co-host during football season on sports radio WEEI-FM, NBC Sports Boston - The New England Tailgate Show, as well as a contributor to western New York radio station WHAM (AM) in Rochester.
In 2018, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Smerlas to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018