We head to number 37 on Fox 40’s Top 40 Most Impactful Local Sports Figures of All Time sponsored by UHS Sports Medicine and UHS Orthopedic…

Number 37 is Steve Chomyszak.  According to Press & Sun-Bulletin, Chomyszak was born in a Nazi forced-labor camp during World War Two before his family immigrated to the Southern Tier. There, he spent his youth as a Johnson City Wildcat dominating, primarily on the JC track and field team. Chomyszak was dubbed the “colossus of Rhodes” for the fact that he was a force to be reckoned with in shot put, once firing a 57-footer. According to Steve’s son, Chomyszak only played one year of varsity high school football, as a senior fullback for JC.

After his days in high school, Chomyszak attended Syracuse University where he started in 1965 on the defensive line, helping the Orange to a 7-3 record, finishing 25th in the country.

After his collegiate days, Chomyszak was drafted in the 12th round by the New York Jets. However, Chomyszak’s days are best remembered with the expansion Cincinnati Bengals. His first year in Cinci was more or less forgettable, but in 1969, Chomyszak started in 12 of 14 games. In 1970, Chomyszak became an everyday starter and even managed seven-and-a-half sacks in the first year the stat was tallied. Also according to his son, Chomyszak dislocated the shoulder of Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl Champion, Terry Bradshaw. Chomyszak played seven years in the NFL, accumulating 17 sacks. In 1974, Chomyszak opted to play in the World Football League, breaking his contract with the Bengals. Something that infuriated Cincinnati head coach, Paul Brown and even led to a lawsuit being filed against Chomyszak and his former teammate Bill Bergey, one that Brown lost. 

A year after signing a contract in the WFL, Chomyszak fought to return to the NFL, returning to the Bengals and playing four preseason games before being cut. The reason this is important is that Chomyszak claims Paul Brown, the Bengals Head Coach, blackballed him from the league.

Either way, Chomyszak later spent some time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but never saw regular-season action and his career ended with 79 games played and 54 starts.

Chomyszak died in 1988, at the age of 43.

For his long NFL career and dominance on both the track and gridiron, along with his challenge of the NFL’s brass and defeating Paul Brown, the namesake of the Cleveland Browns in court, Steve Chomyszak comes in at number 37 of our most impactful local sports figures. Steve Chomyszak, a Johnson City Wildcat, a Syracuse Orangeman, and a Cincinnati Bengal…A man who went toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful brands in sports won, but squashed out for challenging its authority.

Be sure to stick with Fox 40 every weekday at 6 and 10 pm as we release one sports figure per night. Coaches, athletes, media members and contributors are all in consideration.