Football
Football
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Otto Graham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Graham
Otto Everett Graham Jr. (December 6, 1921 – December 17, 2003) was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). Graham is regarded by critics as one of the most dominant players of his era, having taken the Browns to league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, winning seven of them. With Graham at quarterback, the Browns posted a record of 57 wins, 13 losses, and one tie, including a 9–3 win–loss record in the playoffs. While most of Graham's statistical records have been surpassed in the modern era, he still holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt, with 8.63. He also holds the record for the highest career winning percentage for an NFL starting quarterback, at 0.810. Long-time New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a friend of Graham's, once called him "as great of a quarterback as there ever was."[1]
Graham grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of music teachers. He entered Northwestern University in 1940 on a basketball scholarship, but football soon became his main sport. After a brief stint in the military at the end of World War II, Graham played for the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1945–46 championship. Paul Brown, Cleveland's coach, signed Graham to play for the Browns, where he thrived. Graham's 1946 NBL and AAFC titles made him the first of only two people on to have won championships in two of the four major North American sports (the second was Gene Conley). After he retired from playing football in 1955, Graham coached college teams in the College All-Star Game and became head football coach for the Coast Guard Bears at the United States Coast Guard Academy. After seven years there, he was hired as head coach of the Washington Redskins in 1966. Following three unsuccessful years with them, he resigned and returned to the Coast Guard Academy, where he served as athletic director until his retirement in 1984. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Graham's first interest growing up was music.[2] Encouraged by his parents, both of whom were music teachers (his father having taught famous comedian Jack Benny)[3], he took up several instruments: the piano, violin, cornet and French horn.[4][5] Graham also excelled in athletics, and attended Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship in 1940.[6] There he played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman and continued to study music.[7][8] Graham did not take up football until his sophomore year, when Northwestern coach Pappy Waldorf saw him throwing in an intramural game and invited him to practice with the team.[6][7] Northwestern's coaches were impressed with his running and passing, and Waldorf convinced him to sign up.[6][7] Although football became Graham's primary sport, he also played baseball and continued on the basketball team. As a senior, he was named a first-team basketball All-American, part of a squad selected by news outlets comprising the best players at each position.[4]
Graham's first game for the Northwestern Wildcats football team was on October 4, 1941, when he caught a Kansas State punt and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. He ran and passed for two more touchdowns in the 51–3 victory.[7][9] After scoring another pair of touchdowns in a win against Wisconsin, Graham passed to his wide receivers for two touchdowns in a victory over the Ohio State, coached by Paul Brown, the team's only loss of the 1941 season.[7][10] Northwestern ended the year with an 11th-place showing in the AP Poll of the best college teams in the country.[7][11]
As America's involvement in World War II intensified after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Graham signed up for service alongside many fellow student-athletes, entering the U.S. Coast Guard.[6][7] He was able to stay at Northwestern as he waited to be called for active duty. The Wildcats struggled in 1942 as their players joined the war effort, winning only one game.[7][12] Graham still had 89 completions, setting a single-season passing record in the Big Ten Conference, a division of major college teams from the Midwestern United States.[7][13]
The following year Graham and some of his teammates enlisted in the military but continued to play for Northwestern.[7][14] Enlistees from other schools also enrolled at Northwestern, where the U.S. Navy had a training station.[7][15] The 1943 season was a strong one for Northwestern. The team beat Ohio State, the defending national champions, and a good military team at Great Lakes Naval Station.[16][17] The Wildcats lost to Notre Dame and Michigan, however, and finished the season with an 8–2 record and a ninth-place ranking in the AP Poll.[16][17][18] Graham set another Big Ten passing record, was named the conference's Most Valuable Player, received All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.[16][19][20][21] By the end of his college career, he held a Big Ten Conference record for passing yards with 2,132.[4][18]
Graham's career at Northwestern officially ended in February 1944, when he moved to Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, in the Navy's V-5 cadet program, a pilot training course.[22][23] He played basketball for Colgate before moving to North Carolina Pre-Flight later in 1944, where he played on the Cloudbusters football team under coaches Glenn Killinger and Bear Bryant.[18][24]
Impressed by Graham's performances in Northwestern's wins over the Ohio State in 1941 and 1943, Paul Brown came and offered him a contract worth $7,500 per year ($104,376 in 2018 dollars) in 1945 to play for a professional team he was coaching in Cleveland in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[14] Graham would not receive his salary until he started playing, however, and Brown added a monthly stipend of $250 ($3,479 in 2018) until the end of the war.[14] It was a large amount of money at the time. "All I asked was, where do I sign?" Graham said later. "Some of the other navy men said I was rooting for the war to last forever."[14] Graham was also drafted by the National Football League's Detroit Lions, but he did not sign a contract or play a game with the team as the war wore on.[25]
Large numbers of athletes came home as the conflict wound down in Europe following Germany's surrender in mid-1945. The AAFC's first season was not set to start until the fall of 1946, and Graham occupied the intervening months by joining the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL), a forerunner of the National Basketball Association.[26] In March 1946, the Royals swept a best-of-five series against the Sheboygan Red Skins to win the NBL title.[27]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Graham
Otto Everett Graham Jr. (December 6, 1921 – December 17, 2003) was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). Graham is regarded by critics as one of the most dominant players of his era, having taken the Browns to league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, winning seven of them. With Graham at quarterback, the Browns posted a record of 57 wins, 13 losses, and one tie, including a 9–3 win–loss record in the playoffs. While most of Graham's statistical records have been surpassed in the modern era, he still holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt, with 8.63. He also holds the record for the highest career winning percentage for an NFL starting quarterback, at 0.810. Long-time New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a friend of Graham's, once called him "as great of a quarterback as there ever was."[1]
Graham grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of music teachers. He entered Northwestern University in 1940 on a basketball scholarship, but football soon became his main sport. After a brief stint in the military at the end of World War II, Graham played for the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1945–46 championship. Paul Brown, Cleveland's coach, signed Graham to play for the Browns, where he thrived. Graham's 1946 NBL and AAFC titles made him the first of only two people on to have won championships in two of the four major North American sports (the second was Gene Conley). After he retired from playing football in 1955, Graham coached college teams in the College All-Star Game and became head football coach for the Coast Guard Bears at the United States Coast Guard Academy. After seven years there, he was hired as head coach of the Washington Redskins in 1966. Following three unsuccessful years with them, he resigned and returned to the Coast Guard Academy, where he served as athletic director until his retirement in 1984. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Graham's first interest growing up was music.[2] Encouraged by his parents, both of whom were music teachers (his father having taught famous comedian Jack Benny)[3], he took up several instruments: the piano, violin, cornet and French horn.[4][5] Graham also excelled in athletics, and attended Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship in 1940.[6] There he played on the varsity basketball team as a freshman and continued to study music.[7][8] Graham did not take up football until his sophomore year, when Northwestern coach Pappy Waldorf saw him throwing in an intramural game and invited him to practice with the team.[6][7] Northwestern's coaches were impressed with his running and passing, and Waldorf convinced him to sign up.[6][7] Although football became Graham's primary sport, he also played baseball and continued on the basketball team. As a senior, he was named a first-team basketball All-American, part of a squad selected by news outlets comprising the best players at each position.[4]
Graham's first game for the Northwestern Wildcats football team was on October 4, 1941, when he caught a Kansas State punt and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. He ran and passed for two more touchdowns in the 51–3 victory.[7][9] After scoring another pair of touchdowns in a win against Wisconsin, Graham passed to his wide receivers for two touchdowns in a victory over the Ohio State, coached by Paul Brown, the team's only loss of the 1941 season.[7][10] Northwestern ended the year with an 11th-place showing in the AP Poll of the best college teams in the country.[7][11]
As America's involvement in World War II intensified after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Graham signed up for service alongside many fellow student-athletes, entering the U.S. Coast Guard.[6][7] He was able to stay at Northwestern as he waited to be called for active duty. The Wildcats struggled in 1942 as their players joined the war effort, winning only one game.[7][12] Graham still had 89 completions, setting a single-season passing record in the Big Ten Conference, a division of major college teams from the Midwestern United States.[7][13]
The following year Graham and some of his teammates enlisted in the military but continued to play for Northwestern.[7][14] Enlistees from other schools also enrolled at Northwestern, where the U.S. Navy had a training station.[7][15] The 1943 season was a strong one for Northwestern. The team beat Ohio State, the defending national champions, and a good military team at Great Lakes Naval Station.[16][17] The Wildcats lost to Notre Dame and Michigan, however, and finished the season with an 8–2 record and a ninth-place ranking in the AP Poll.[16][17][18] Graham set another Big Ten passing record, was named the conference's Most Valuable Player, received All-American honors and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.[16][19][20][21] By the end of his college career, he held a Big Ten Conference record for passing yards with 2,132.[4][18]
Graham's career at Northwestern officially ended in February 1944, when he moved to Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, in the Navy's V-5 cadet program, a pilot training course.[22][23] He played basketball for Colgate before moving to North Carolina Pre-Flight later in 1944, where he played on the Cloudbusters football team under coaches Glenn Killinger and Bear Bryant.[18][24]
Impressed by Graham's performances in Northwestern's wins over the Ohio State in 1941 and 1943, Paul Brown came and offered him a contract worth $7,500 per year ($104,376 in 2018 dollars) in 1945 to play for a professional team he was coaching in Cleveland in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[14] Graham would not receive his salary until he started playing, however, and Brown added a monthly stipend of $250 ($3,479 in 2018) until the end of the war.[14] It was a large amount of money at the time. "All I asked was, where do I sign?" Graham said later. "Some of the other navy men said I was rooting for the war to last forever."[14] Graham was also drafted by the National Football League's Detroit Lions, but he did not sign a contract or play a game with the team as the war wore on.[25]
Large numbers of athletes came home as the conflict wound down in Europe following Germany's surrender in mid-1945. The AAFC's first season was not set to start until the fall of 1946, and Graham occupied the intervening months by joining the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL), a forerunner of the National Basketball Association.[26] In March 1946, the Royals swept a best-of-five series against the Sheboygan Red Skins to win the NBL title.[27]
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A video about the career of football star Otto Graham
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that December 6, is the anniversary of the birth of an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) Otto Everett Graham Jr. who "is regarded by critics as one of the most dominant players of his era, having taken the Browns to league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, winning seven of them."
Rest in peace Otto Everett Graham.
I was exhausted on Friday, December 6, 2019 and slept 15 hours from 0600 - 2100 Romeo time.
December 6 is the anniversary of the birth of eldest adopted son who is imprisoned at the Federal prison at Gilmer, West Virginia. He is scheduled fro a parole hearing next fall.
Otto Graham, football legend.
"A video about the career of football star Otto Graham"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1bDtxguLek
Images
1. 1949 photo of Otto Graham quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. [AP Photo]
2. Otto Graham age 6 weeks, 20 pounds.
3. 1955 Topps All-Star Card Otto Graham Quarterback.
4. Otto Graham 'playing' football at a young age
Background from ottograham.net/biography/
"Otto Everett Graham, Jr. set his first state record at birth in Waukegan, Illinois on December 6, 1921, weighing in at 14 lbs., 12 ozs. His music teacher parents mixed family values and the arts in raising their four sons. Otto learned the piano, violin, and cornet before focusing on French horn in high school. Bigger than most kids his age, Otto’s versatility became apparent early when he became Illinois French horn champion and conference basketball scoring leader at age 16. As a senior, he was a member of Waukegan High’s National Champion brass sextet while also being selected to the ’38 All-State Basketball and football squads. Otto scored 20 points in the Bulldogs stunning defeat of state champ Dundee High, ending a three-year 44 game Dundee win streak. Graduating early, Otto pared numerous scholarship offers to Northwestern or Dartmouth and eventually accepted a full basketball offer from the nearby Evanston campus.Made aware of a freshman throwing long accurate passes in the intramural league, Northwestern Coach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf watched the basketball recruit win the fraternity championship and invited Otto to spring football. Following a promising freshman basketball season, Otto capped his ’39 Wildcat spring football debut by running for three scores and throwing for three more in the annual spring scrimmage. Missing a year due to knee surgery, Otto’s ’41-43 college football career was highlighted by 2 upset victories over Paul Brown’s National Champion Ohio State football squad; connecting on a national single-wing record 20 for 29 passes for 295 yards in a loss to Michigan; scoring 27 of 41 points in a shut out of Wisconsin; shattering Tom Harmon’s Big Ten career and Angelo Bertelli’s season passing marks; and by returning a Sammy Baugh interception 97 yards for a touchdown in the College All-Star game against the World Champion Washington Redskins. Otto finished third in ’43’s Heisman voting to Notre Dame’s Bertelli and was drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions.As a Wildcat ’41-44 basketball star, “Automatic” Otto was the second leading Big Ten scorer and All-American as a junior and senior, Wildcat captain and MVP his senior year, and was named MVP in the College All-Star upset of the reigning NBA champion Washington Bears. Named Big Ten football and basketball MVP in the same scholastic year, Otto also played baseball for two seasons, posting NU’s third highest batting average while earning 8 varsity letters in his collegiate career. Few athletes have ever been All-American in two sports, yet Otto managed the task back-to-back in the same collegiate year.
Enrolled in the Navy’s V-5 carrier program after Pearl Harbor, Otto received training orders during his senior basketball campaign, finishing the season with Colgate University. Transferred to Chapel Hill, NC, Otto was named cadet Regimental Commander and learned the T-formation in service ball under Glen Kilinger and Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was named a ’44-45 service All-American in football and basketball. Drafted in the ’44 first round by the Detroit Lions, Otto married college sweetheart Beverly Collinge from Wabash, Indiana and signed instead with Paul Brown’s newly formed Cleveland Browns of the All America Football Conference. After his Naval discharge and before football, Otto won his second College All-Star football game and was recruited to play pro-basketball with the Rochester Royals for the winter. Along with teammates Red Holtzman, Chuck “Rifleman” Connors, Al Cervi, Del Rice and Tom Rich, etal., the Royals won the ’45-46 NBL Championship a year before the NBL reformed into the NBA.
Starting his second rookie season of ’46, Otto retired from basketball to join the Cleveland Browns who proceeded to stun the football establishment by winning the AAFC Championship. Otto is the only professional athlete to win World Championships in different sports. Once again, he accomplished the feat in back to back seasons. The Browns dominated the AAFC in ’46, again in ’47, and were undefeated in ’48 while shattered existing attendance records including those of the reigning NFL. After winning their fourth title in ’49, with Otto being named league MVP for the third time, the Brown’s dominance resulted in the league’s demise, thus ending any hopes of a super game between the AAFC and NFL.
In 1950, the Browns, 49ers, and Colts were absorbed into the NFL. Commissioner Bert Bell, intent on teaching the upstarts a lesson, scheduled Cleveland’s regular season debut against two time World Champion Philadelphia. Otto’s first pass in the NFL was a touchdown as the Browns stunned the Eagles, 35-10. The Browns lost two games enroute to a 30-28 Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the team which had left Cleveland after winning the ’45 title. Lou “The Toe” Groza kicked the game winning field goal giving the Brown’s their first NFL title and Otto his first league MVP honors.The Browns fought their way to the title game again in ’51, ’52 and ’53, but lost the championship to the Rams once, and Lions twice. Rebounding in ’54, with Otto throwing three TD’s and running for three more, the Browns buried the Lions, 56-10. Retiring after the season, Otto was coaxed back by Coach Paul Brown for one more year and led Cleveland to his final Championship, throwing for two TD’s and running for two more in a career ending 38-14 victory over the Rams.Named league MVP for the second time, Otto retired at age 33 after ten seasons. Otto’s helmet and uniform, including his original number 14 Jersey, the first retired by the Browns, is on display at the Professional Football Hall of Fame along with his ’55 Hichcock Belt, awarded to the nation’s top professional athlete. Otto became the first gridiron recipient by leading the Cleveland Browns to ten Championship games in ten years, winning seven. With Otto under center, the Browns lost only 17 regular season games. An original iron man, Otto played in every game of his career.
In 1959, thanks to longtime pal George Steinbrenner’s recommendation, Otto accepted the Athletic Director and football coaching position at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Appointed a reserve Commander by President Kennedy, and later Captain by LBJ, Otto led the academically selected Bears to an undefeated season in ’63, culminating in a Tangerine Bowl loss to Western Kentucky. He was also named to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. With two wins in the College All-Star game as a collegian, and two more as a Brown, Otto was asked to coach ten All-Star squads resulting in victories over the ’58 Detroit Lions and ’63 Green Bay Packers. Leaving the Coast Guard to become Head Coach and General Manager of the Washington Redskins from ’66-68, Otto’s offensive squads, behind the arm of future Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen, shattered league passing marks earning Otto the opportunity to coach the east team in the ’68 NFL Pro Bowl.
When replaced by Vince Lombardi in ’69, Otto returned to the Coast Guard Academy. Diagnosed with rectal cancer in ’77, which required a colostomy, Otto won a golf tournament with Joe DiMaggio a month after his release from the hospital. His matter-of-fact approach to cancer resulted in Otto’s being named honorary chairman of the National Cancer Society by President Carter. Retiring as coach, Otto remained at the Coast Guard Academy as AD and good will ambassador until his retirement in ’85.
Otto Graham was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in ’65, his first year of eligibility and is consistently ranked high on all-time quarterback ratings.
In 1994, Otto was selected along with QB’s Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, and Joe Montana to the NFL’s 75th anniversary all-time team and represented his peers by tossing the game coins at Superbowl XXIX and the Hall of Fame inaugural between the Jaguars and Panthers.
In 2003, the United State’s Coast Guard Academy established “The Otto Graham Athletic Legacy Fund” to develop and maintain high caliber athletic programs, culminating with “The Otto Graham Pavilion”.
In 2004, Northwestern University unveiled ‘The Otto Graham Honor Roll’ at Ryan Field, highlighting Wildcat legends on the stadium’s facade.
In 2010, the Cleveland Browns unveiled a franchise ‘Ring of Honor’ on the stadium facade with Otto and Paul Brown’s names overlooking midfield.
In 2010, the Big Ten Network named Otto number 14 on their list of 75 ‘Big Ten Icon’s, featuring a network program with Duey talking about his dad.
In 2011, Otto was named number 16 in a NFL Films production of the top 100 NFL football players of all time.
In 2011, the Big Ten Conference renamed their Offensive Player of the Year Trophy the ‘Graham-George Trophy,’ after Otto and Ohio State’s Eddie George.
In March, 2012, ground will be broken for the ‘Otto Graham Gymnasium and Activity Center’ at the Waterford Country School in Waterford, Conn. Otto was an invaluable supporter of WCS’s ideals and committment to the special needs of children and at risk families.
In November of 2013, Northwestern University announced the Otto Graham Society, a foundation dedicated to supporting student athletes achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Just as Otto dedicated much of his life to helping others achieve personal and athletic success, members of this society also do so by donating their own money year over year to Northwestern’s Athletic programs and it’s young athletes.
Otto, who celebrated his 58th wedding anniversary with Beverly in October ‘2003, and 82nd birthday at his home in Sarasota, Florida, died peacefully of a dissecting aneurism on December 17, 2003 surrounded by his family. He is survived by Bev, 5 children, Duey, Sandy and Dave, Kay, and Charee; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord LTC Orlando Illi CPT Jack Durish CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White Sgt Albert Castro
Rest in peace Otto Everett Graham.
I was exhausted on Friday, December 6, 2019 and slept 15 hours from 0600 - 2100 Romeo time.
December 6 is the anniversary of the birth of eldest adopted son who is imprisoned at the Federal prison at Gilmer, West Virginia. He is scheduled fro a parole hearing next fall.
Otto Graham, football legend.
"A video about the career of football star Otto Graham"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1bDtxguLek
Images
1. 1949 photo of Otto Graham quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. [AP Photo]
2. Otto Graham age 6 weeks, 20 pounds.
3. 1955 Topps All-Star Card Otto Graham Quarterback.
4. Otto Graham 'playing' football at a young age
Background from ottograham.net/biography/
"Otto Everett Graham, Jr. set his first state record at birth in Waukegan, Illinois on December 6, 1921, weighing in at 14 lbs., 12 ozs. His music teacher parents mixed family values and the arts in raising their four sons. Otto learned the piano, violin, and cornet before focusing on French horn in high school. Bigger than most kids his age, Otto’s versatility became apparent early when he became Illinois French horn champion and conference basketball scoring leader at age 16. As a senior, he was a member of Waukegan High’s National Champion brass sextet while also being selected to the ’38 All-State Basketball and football squads. Otto scored 20 points in the Bulldogs stunning defeat of state champ Dundee High, ending a three-year 44 game Dundee win streak. Graduating early, Otto pared numerous scholarship offers to Northwestern or Dartmouth and eventually accepted a full basketball offer from the nearby Evanston campus.Made aware of a freshman throwing long accurate passes in the intramural league, Northwestern Coach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf watched the basketball recruit win the fraternity championship and invited Otto to spring football. Following a promising freshman basketball season, Otto capped his ’39 Wildcat spring football debut by running for three scores and throwing for three more in the annual spring scrimmage. Missing a year due to knee surgery, Otto’s ’41-43 college football career was highlighted by 2 upset victories over Paul Brown’s National Champion Ohio State football squad; connecting on a national single-wing record 20 for 29 passes for 295 yards in a loss to Michigan; scoring 27 of 41 points in a shut out of Wisconsin; shattering Tom Harmon’s Big Ten career and Angelo Bertelli’s season passing marks; and by returning a Sammy Baugh interception 97 yards for a touchdown in the College All-Star game against the World Champion Washington Redskins. Otto finished third in ’43’s Heisman voting to Notre Dame’s Bertelli and was drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions.As a Wildcat ’41-44 basketball star, “Automatic” Otto was the second leading Big Ten scorer and All-American as a junior and senior, Wildcat captain and MVP his senior year, and was named MVP in the College All-Star upset of the reigning NBA champion Washington Bears. Named Big Ten football and basketball MVP in the same scholastic year, Otto also played baseball for two seasons, posting NU’s third highest batting average while earning 8 varsity letters in his collegiate career. Few athletes have ever been All-American in two sports, yet Otto managed the task back-to-back in the same collegiate year.
Enrolled in the Navy’s V-5 carrier program after Pearl Harbor, Otto received training orders during his senior basketball campaign, finishing the season with Colgate University. Transferred to Chapel Hill, NC, Otto was named cadet Regimental Commander and learned the T-formation in service ball under Glen Kilinger and Paul “Bear” Bryant. He was named a ’44-45 service All-American in football and basketball. Drafted in the ’44 first round by the Detroit Lions, Otto married college sweetheart Beverly Collinge from Wabash, Indiana and signed instead with Paul Brown’s newly formed Cleveland Browns of the All America Football Conference. After his Naval discharge and before football, Otto won his second College All-Star football game and was recruited to play pro-basketball with the Rochester Royals for the winter. Along with teammates Red Holtzman, Chuck “Rifleman” Connors, Al Cervi, Del Rice and Tom Rich, etal., the Royals won the ’45-46 NBL Championship a year before the NBL reformed into the NBA.
Starting his second rookie season of ’46, Otto retired from basketball to join the Cleveland Browns who proceeded to stun the football establishment by winning the AAFC Championship. Otto is the only professional athlete to win World Championships in different sports. Once again, he accomplished the feat in back to back seasons. The Browns dominated the AAFC in ’46, again in ’47, and were undefeated in ’48 while shattered existing attendance records including those of the reigning NFL. After winning their fourth title in ’49, with Otto being named league MVP for the third time, the Brown’s dominance resulted in the league’s demise, thus ending any hopes of a super game between the AAFC and NFL.
In 1950, the Browns, 49ers, and Colts were absorbed into the NFL. Commissioner Bert Bell, intent on teaching the upstarts a lesson, scheduled Cleveland’s regular season debut against two time World Champion Philadelphia. Otto’s first pass in the NFL was a touchdown as the Browns stunned the Eagles, 35-10. The Browns lost two games enroute to a 30-28 Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams, the team which had left Cleveland after winning the ’45 title. Lou “The Toe” Groza kicked the game winning field goal giving the Brown’s their first NFL title and Otto his first league MVP honors.The Browns fought their way to the title game again in ’51, ’52 and ’53, but lost the championship to the Rams once, and Lions twice. Rebounding in ’54, with Otto throwing three TD’s and running for three more, the Browns buried the Lions, 56-10. Retiring after the season, Otto was coaxed back by Coach Paul Brown for one more year and led Cleveland to his final Championship, throwing for two TD’s and running for two more in a career ending 38-14 victory over the Rams.Named league MVP for the second time, Otto retired at age 33 after ten seasons. Otto’s helmet and uniform, including his original number 14 Jersey, the first retired by the Browns, is on display at the Professional Football Hall of Fame along with his ’55 Hichcock Belt, awarded to the nation’s top professional athlete. Otto became the first gridiron recipient by leading the Cleveland Browns to ten Championship games in ten years, winning seven. With Otto under center, the Browns lost only 17 regular season games. An original iron man, Otto played in every game of his career.
In 1959, thanks to longtime pal George Steinbrenner’s recommendation, Otto accepted the Athletic Director and football coaching position at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. Appointed a reserve Commander by President Kennedy, and later Captain by LBJ, Otto led the academically selected Bears to an undefeated season in ’63, culminating in a Tangerine Bowl loss to Western Kentucky. He was also named to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. With two wins in the College All-Star game as a collegian, and two more as a Brown, Otto was asked to coach ten All-Star squads resulting in victories over the ’58 Detroit Lions and ’63 Green Bay Packers. Leaving the Coast Guard to become Head Coach and General Manager of the Washington Redskins from ’66-68, Otto’s offensive squads, behind the arm of future Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen, shattered league passing marks earning Otto the opportunity to coach the east team in the ’68 NFL Pro Bowl.
When replaced by Vince Lombardi in ’69, Otto returned to the Coast Guard Academy. Diagnosed with rectal cancer in ’77, which required a colostomy, Otto won a golf tournament with Joe DiMaggio a month after his release from the hospital. His matter-of-fact approach to cancer resulted in Otto’s being named honorary chairman of the National Cancer Society by President Carter. Retiring as coach, Otto remained at the Coast Guard Academy as AD and good will ambassador until his retirement in ’85.
Otto Graham was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in ’65, his first year of eligibility and is consistently ranked high on all-time quarterback ratings.
In 1994, Otto was selected along with QB’s Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, and Joe Montana to the NFL’s 75th anniversary all-time team and represented his peers by tossing the game coins at Superbowl XXIX and the Hall of Fame inaugural between the Jaguars and Panthers.
In 2003, the United State’s Coast Guard Academy established “The Otto Graham Athletic Legacy Fund” to develop and maintain high caliber athletic programs, culminating with “The Otto Graham Pavilion”.
In 2004, Northwestern University unveiled ‘The Otto Graham Honor Roll’ at Ryan Field, highlighting Wildcat legends on the stadium’s facade.
In 2010, the Cleveland Browns unveiled a franchise ‘Ring of Honor’ on the stadium facade with Otto and Paul Brown’s names overlooking midfield.
In 2010, the Big Ten Network named Otto number 14 on their list of 75 ‘Big Ten Icon’s, featuring a network program with Duey talking about his dad.
In 2011, Otto was named number 16 in a NFL Films production of the top 100 NFL football players of all time.
In 2011, the Big Ten Conference renamed their Offensive Player of the Year Trophy the ‘Graham-George Trophy,’ after Otto and Ohio State’s Eddie George.
In March, 2012, ground will be broken for the ‘Otto Graham Gymnasium and Activity Center’ at the Waterford Country School in Waterford, Conn. Otto was an invaluable supporter of WCS’s ideals and committment to the special needs of children and at risk families.
In November of 2013, Northwestern University announced the Otto Graham Society, a foundation dedicated to supporting student athletes achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Just as Otto dedicated much of his life to helping others achieve personal and athletic success, members of this society also do so by donating their own money year over year to Northwestern’s Athletic programs and it’s young athletes.
Otto, who celebrated his 58th wedding anniversary with Beverly in October ‘2003, and 82nd birthday at his home in Sarasota, Florida, died peacefully of a dissecting aneurism on December 17, 2003 surrounded by his family. He is survived by Bev, 5 children, Duey, Sandy and Dave, Kay, and Charee; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren."
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC Greg Henning LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Scott Sharon CWO3 Dennis M. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell PO1 H Gene Lawrence PO2 Kevin Parker PO3 Bob McCord LTC Orlando Illi CPT Jack Durish CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White Sgt Albert Castro
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LTC Stephen F.
Browns Unveil Otto Graham Statue | Cleveland Browns
The Browns unveiled a statue of Otto Graham in front of FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2019 as part of the team's "Fantennial Weekend" celebra...
Browns Unveil Otto Graham Statue | Cleveland Browns
"The Browns unveiled a statue of Otto Graham in front of FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2019 as part of the team's "Fantennial Weekend" celebration."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnrsLplEkng
FYI SPC Tom DeSmetSGT Charles H. Hawes FYI SGT Mark Anderson SGT Jim Arnold SSgt Terry P. SFC (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland MSG Andrew White Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Gregory Lawritson SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian Williams
"The Browns unveiled a statue of Otto Graham in front of FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday, September 9, 2019 as part of the team's "Fantennial Weekend" celebration."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnrsLplEkng
FYI SPC Tom DeSmetSGT Charles H. Hawes FYI SGT Mark Anderson SGT Jim Arnold SSgt Terry P. SFC (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland MSG Andrew White Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Gregory Lawritson SGT (Join to see) CWO3 (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel LTC (Join to see)1sg-dan-capriSGT Robert R.CPT Tommy CurtisSFC Jack ChampionA1C Ian Williams
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LTC Stephen F.
FYI PO2 John ZodunCpl James R. " Jim" Gossett JrSP5 Jeannie CarleSPC Chris Bayner-CwikTSgt David L.PO1 Robert GeorgeSSG Robert Mark Odom LTC Jeff Shearer Maj Robert Thornton SGT Philip RoncariCWO3 Dennis M. SFC William FarrellPO3 Bob McCord SPC Douglas Bolton Cynthia Croft SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SSgt Boyd Herrst Col Carl Whicker SPC Matthew Lamb
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