Growing up just outside Chicago in a family of ten, sports were woven into daily life. Baseball and football dominated George’s childhood, but by his senior year of high school, football had clearly won out. Major programs in and out of the Big Ten footprint pursued him heavily. “I remember meeting Bo for breakfast Sunday morning in his office during my visit,” Lilja said. “Bo told me he couldn’t officially offer a scholarship for another two weeks because of NCAA rules, but his handshake was as good as a contract.” For Lilja, that was enough. He returned home and told his parents he planned to become a Wolverine, despite already having a recruiting trip scheduled to the University of Miami the following week.

 “I had my bags packed and the Miami coach actually came to our house to drive me to the airport,” Lilja said. “But my mom stopped me before I walked out the door. She reminded me I had already given Bo my word.” The conversation that followed was uncomfortable. “It was pretty embarrassing telling the Miami coach I wasn’t going on the plane with him,” Lilja laughed. “But I wasn’t about to argue with my mother.”

Years later, Lilja learned the importance of his handshake contract. Every Monday, Bo Schembechler reportedly reviewed which recruits continued taking visits after verbal commitments. Thanks to his mother’s tactical blocking skills, George Lilja never appeared on that list.

The handshake held. Ann Arbor was next.

Michigan Awaits

Arriving for training camp in August 1976 was another shock entirely. “I walked into the weight room with freshmen Johnny Wangler and Mel Owens and saw Calvin O’Neal bench pressing more weight than I could count,” Lilja recalled. “I immediately thought, ‘I’m never going to play a down here.’” Ironically, O’Neal would become one of the most influential figures in Lilja’s development.

As a freshman center on the JV and demonstration squads, Lilja spent practices lining up directly across from the powerful Michigan captain. “Calvin was basically immovable,” Lilja said. “Coach Moeller probably thought I was going to get somebody killed out there because of all the freshman mistakes.” But O’Neal also modeled what leadership looked like inside the Michigan program. He mentored younger players, with Lilja recalling O’Neal taking him on a run around the gold course as a freshman, instilling the standards of discipline and leadership that stayed with Lilja long after O’Neal graduated.

“He saw leadership qualities in me before I saw them myself,” Lilja said.

From Fifth String to Captain

Development came quickly after that.

Under offensive line coaches Paul Schudel and Jerry Hanlon, Michigan consistently produced All-Big Ten linemen and NFL talent. Lilja steadily climbed the depth chart from fifth string and demo-team center into a full-time starter by his senior and 5^th year red-shirted senior seasons. By 1980, he was voted team co-captain alongside Andy Cannavino.

Leadership ran in the Lilja family. George and his brothers, Larry Lilja at Northwestern and David Lilja at Indiana all served as captains at their respective universities, creating what is believed to be the only trio of brothers to captain football programs at three different Big Ten schools. The 1980 Wolverines finished with a Big Ten championship and Bo Schembechler’s first Rose Bowl victory, defeating Washington to cap one of the program’s defining seasons.

Michigan’s offensive line dominated throughout the year, with every starter earning All-Big Ten recognition. Lilja was named an All-American. “That season, we felt like we could take the ball 80 yards anytime we wanted and never give it back,” Lilja said. “Then the defense would force a three-and-out.”

The Wolverines closed the season ranked No. 4 nationally after holding opponents without a touchdown over the final 22 quarters of football.

The Call That Almost Went Unanswered

When his Michigan career ended, Lilja believed the NFL was in the cards. At the time, NFL teams still mailed letters to players expressing interest before the draft. “I had heard from the Lions and the Rams and was invited to the combine,” Lilja said. “Mel Owens and I went together. Everybody knew Mel was going in the first round.” In 1981, ESPN televised the NFL Draft for the first time.

Lilja watched from his apartment with a few teammates and his girlfriend, Meg, who would later become his wife, while it seemed his father called every 30 minutes asking for updates. Late in the day, the phone rang again. “I almost didn’t answer it because I figured it was my dad checking in again,” Lilja laughed. “I picked up the phone and immediately started telling him I still hadn’t been drafted.” Then came a long silence. On the other end was Los Angeles Rams head coach Roy Malavasi. The Rams had selected George Lilja in the fourth round, and the following week expected George in California for initial team workouts.

“When I got to New York, the first thing the current players did, when they learned I just came from the Rams, was to pull out the game film to make sure I wasn’t involved in the fight,” Lilja joked. Lilja finished the season with the Jets, but another difficult moment arrived near the end of the 1984 season. “Back then, if there was a black plastic bag taped to your locker after practice, it meant you’d been cut,” Lilja recalled. “I walked in and saw the bag hanging there with four games left in the season and wasn’t sure if I would get another chance at football.”

That week, George and Meg packed their belongings and headed to Chicago to temporarily stay with family as they assessed what might be next. As they drove through Cleveland, Lilja remembered listening to the Browns on the radio. By the time they arrived in Chicago, his father had another message waiting.

“The Browns’ general manager had been trying to reach me,” Lilja said. “They wanted me in Cleveland immediately.” Seventy-two hours later, Lilja was back in pads and playing on Sundays once again.

Cleveland, Marty, and “The Drive”

Cleveland ultimately became the defining chapter of Lilja’s NFL career. Playing under future coaching legend Marty Schottenheimer who was promoted midseason in 1984 to head coach, Lilja helped anchor a strong Browns line. He blocked for the outstanding rushing tandem of Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack, who each surpassed 1,000 rushing yards during the 1985 season (only the third duo to accomplish the feat at the time). Success led to playoffs, which unfortunately in 1986 ended in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos and “The Drive” game where the Browns lost due to late game John Elway heroics.

“I was fortunate to have faith, family, and great mentors along the way,” Lilja said while reflecting on his NFL journey. Additional stops with Dallas and Atlanta followed before he retired after eight professional seasons. Among Lilja’s favorite memories was playing on Thanksgiving Day for legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry.

Leadership Beyond Football

Football may have ended, but leadership remained central to Lilja’s life.

Rapid Fire with George Lilja

Favorite Ann Arbor Restaurant:
Gandy Dancer

Favorite Bo Quote:
“I hope you got enough to eat, George.”

Who Recruited You to Michigan?
Former Michigan quarterback and coach Dennis Brown

Most Impressive Players Faced or Played With:

• Tim Krumrie (Wisconsin and Cincinnati Bengals) — “An absolute force at nose tackle.” 
• Mike Singletary (Chicago Bears)— “He knew every play before the snap.” 
• Howie Long (LA Raiders) — “The smartest and most talented guy on the field.” 
• Mark Gastineau and Joe Klecko (NY Jets teammates) 

Best Games at Michigan:
“The Michigan State game and the Ohio State game. The first play against Ohio State was basically a fistfight and then we played football. The Michigan State game felt like a fistfight the entire afternoon.”

— Brian Resutek