He was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team All-NFL player in five of his seven NFL seasons and played in five Pro Bowls.

He enrolled at San Francisco Junior College in the fall of 1946 and played football while changing his position to guard.

After a year of junior college, Stanfel served as a signal corpsman in the United States Army for a year-and-a-half.

[3] At USF, Stanfel was a blocker for Ollie Matson and a teammate of Gino Marchetti and Bob St. Clair.

[7] In August 1951, Stanfel was hit from the side in a scrimmage while practicing in Wisconsin for the Chicago College All-Star Game, seriously injuring his left knee.

In November 1952, after the Lions rushed for a season-high 321 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Free Press published an article crediting Stanfel as a key to the running game.

Assistant coach Aldo Forte said, "Stanfel's play at guard was the chief contribution to our great running game.

"[10] George Wilson added: "We feel that Stanfel is one of the best, if not THE best offensive guard in pro football today.

[1] In the spring of 1954, the Calgary Stampeders sought to lure Stanfel to the Canadian Football League with an offer to pay 20% more than his $7,000 salary with the Lions.

At the time of Stanfel's return, Lions head coach Buddy Parker called him "the best blocking back in the NFL.

[1] The 1955 Lions fell to 3–9, as Stanfel was injured twice, the later time suffering a spinal injury that took him out of the lineup for three weeks.

[1][14] Despite the injuries, Stanfel remained one of the top offensive linemen in the NFL and was chosen to play in his second Pro Bowl after the 1955 season.

[16] Despite the team's subpar performance, Stanfel earned first-team All-NFL honors from the AP and UP all three years he was with the Redskins.

[1] In December 1958, after the end of the season, Kuharich left the Redskins and took over as head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

[17] Within days, the press began to speculate that Stanfel, who had suffered multiple injuries during the 1958 season, would take a coaching position with Kuharich at Notre Dame.

Kuharich was the only head coach in Notre Dame football history to compile a losing record (17–23) over his career with the program.

[21] In January 1963, Stanfel was hired as the offensive line coach for the California Golden Bears football team.

"[23] In March 1964, Stanfel renewed his professional relationship with Kuharich, who had been hired as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In February 1976, Stanfel was hired as Hank Stram's offensive line coach with the New Orleans Saints.

[32] After the 1985 season, Ditka noted that the Bears had led the NFL in rushing for three straight years, gave credit to Stanfel, and called him "the best offensive line coach in football.

He was selected as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in both 1993 and 2012, but failed to garner sufficient support.