Celebrating underdogs: Paul Salata, creator of NFL's Mr. Irrelevant award, dies at 94
Salata played football, fought Moses, and started an award for the player picked last in the NFL draft
Paul Salata, founder of the NFL's Mr. Irrelevant award, will be remembered for doing nice things for people for no reason, says his daughter.
The former professional football player started an award for the last player picked in the NFL draft, recognizing they were just as important as anyone else selected in the draft. Salata died on Oct. 16 at the age of 94.
"He always thought that everybody on the team should have equal honours, because they are all just as important," his daughter, Melanie Fitch, told As It Happens host Carol Off.
"He was tossing the idea around with some of his friends one day and said, 'Let's bring the last guy … and treat him just like the first guy because it's irrelevant that he's last. He's the underdog, but he should be treated just like the first guy drafted.'"
The tradition was started in 1976, and continues to this day. Fitch said the title of Mr. Irrelevant never made sense to her, because she thought it made the recipient seem really irrelevant. But that was her dad.
"He wasn't a marketing guy, he was a football guy," Fitch said.
At first, players were hesitant to participate, but Salata went all out to make sure the recipient had a good time. If a player had a favourite actor they wanted to meet, or something they always wanted to try, like jet skiing, Salata would try to organize that for them.
"The community gives gifts; he gets over 200 gifts from the community. The commissioner, Roger Goodel, writes him a personal letter, and sends a representative from the NFL out, and he gets a watch," Fitch said.
"It's irrelevant that he's last. It's an honour to be drafted at all."
Beat up by Moses
Salata played in both the CFL and the NFL. During his three seasons in Canada, he played for the Calgary Stampeders and the Ottawa Rough Riders.
"In Canada he was paid much better than in the United States, so he said it was colder, but it was worth it," Fitch said.
In the off-season, he took his talents to the big screen. Salata acted in movies such as The Buccaneers and The Kid from Left Field.
Fitch said he would often play a henchman or a bad guy. In the movie The Ten Commandments, Salata was beaten up by Moses.
"That's how old he was. Anyone who got beat up by Moses must've been pretty old," joked Fitch.
Come on, we're all equal here, let's celebrate that underdog- Melanie Finch
Movies and football weren't the only things that kept Salata busy.
"Dad always was known for being very fun loving but very giving," she said.
Salata started charities, and it was something he involved his children in as well. That's why Fitch says the tradition of Mr. Irrelevant will continue.
"It's nice to honour the underdog, right? Come on, we're all equal here, let's celebrate that underdog. So we'll keep it going."
Written by Philip Drost. Produced by Sarah Jackson.
