{{{Caption}}}
Date of birth	December 6, 1921
Place of birth	Waukegan, Illinois
Date of death	December 17, 2003
Position(s)	QB
College	Northwestern
Draft	[[ NFL Draft#Round_|]] / Round
Pro Bowls	1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Awards
Honors	NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Retired #s	Cleveland Browns #14
Records
Statistics	Pro Football Reference
Statistics	NFL.com
Statistics	DatabaseFootball
Statistics	ESPN
Statistics	Sports Illustrated
Team(s)
1946-1955	Cleveland Browns
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1965

Otto Everett Graham Jr. (December 6, 1921 - December 17, 2003) was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the AAFC and NFL, as well as the Rochester Royals in the NBL. Image File history File links OttoGraham_Picture. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Waukegan is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, of which it is the county seat. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Joe Montana, an American quaterback. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... Northwestern University is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian university, located in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... Tackle during 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii A top cheerleader from each team takes part in the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ... An award is something given to a person or group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field. ... Honours may refer to: Honours, used to recognise merit in terms of achievement and service in the British honours system Honours degree, in association with Bachelors degree See also Honour or honor, comprises the reputation, self-perception or moral identity of an individual or of a group This is... The National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team was chosen by a selection committee of media and league personnel in 1994. ... Retirement is the status of a worker who has stopped working. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper Local radio Flagship stations: WMMS (100. ... A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline, usually a sports event. ... A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... A graph of a bell curve in a normal distribution showing statistics used in educational assessment, comparing various grading methods. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper Local radio Flagship stations: WMMS (100. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005 Basketball is a sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop (the basket) under organized rules. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper Local radio Flagship stations: WMMS (100. ... The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the rival National Football League from 1946 to 1949. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... The Sacramento Kings are a National Basketball Association team based in Sacramento, California. ... NBL may refer to: the Australian National Basketball League the defunct American National Basketball League the defunct Canadian National Basketball League the Australian student political grouping National Broad Left This page concerning a three-letter acronym or abbreviation is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same...

Early life

Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Graham grew up with a strong connection to music, with his father serving as Waukegan High School's band director. However, it would be on a variety of athletic fields where Graham's talents would truly sing, making him the most famous native of Waukegan since comedian Jack Benny. Waukegan is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, of which it is the county seat. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974), an American comedian, vaudeville performer, and radio, television, and film actor, was arguably the biggest star in classic American radio and was also a major television attraction. ...

Graham graduated from Northwestern University, attending the school on a basketball scholarship. By the time he was finished, he had played four years of basketball, three of football, two of baseball and also played the cornet in the Wildcats' school band. Graham's time on the football field would be spent at tailback. Northwestern University is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian university, located in Evanston, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois. ... Tailback is an offensive backfield position in the sport of American football. ...

AAFC and NFL Career

In 1942, Graham was drafted by the NFL's Detroit Lions, but was obligated to serve in the United States Navy. Even before Graham's term was ended, head coach Paul Brown of the fledgling Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) offered him a two-year contract for $7,500 per season. In addition, Brown offered a $1,000 bonus and $250 per month for the duration of the war, an agreement Graham quickly signed. Brown knew all about Graham's talent having been head coach at Big Ten rival Ohio State during the latter's college days. This article is about the year. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... City Detroit, Michigan Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations around the globe. ... Paul Eugene Brown (September 7, 1908 - August 5, 1991) A seminal figure in American football history, Brown is considered the father of the modern offense, with many also adding that he ranks as the greatest football coach in history. ... City Cleveland, Ohio Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Brown, Orange, and White Head Coach Romeo Crennel Owner Randy Lerner General manager Phil Savage Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot CB, Chomps, TD, and Trapper Local radio Flagship stations: WMMS (100. ... The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the rival National Football League from 1946 to 1949. ...

However, Graham also found time to play one year of professional basketball for the Rochester Royals. In what would become one of his trademarks, the Royals captured the 1945-46 National Basketball League title. The Sacramento Kings are a National Basketball Association team based in Sacramento, California. ... This article discusses the National Basketball League, a defunct professional league in the United States. ...

Upon joining the Browns in 1946, he was switched to quarterback, where he would lead the team to the league championship game in each of his 10 seasons, winning on seven occasions. During the AAFC's four-year existence, the Browns won the championship each year as Graham threw for 10,085 yards and 86 touchdowns and rushed for 11 more. 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Joe Montana, an American quaterback. ...

The Browns joined the National Football League in 1950, and won the league championship in their first NFL season, deflecting the criticism of their domination of the AAFC. Graham paced the team to a 10-2 record on the season, the only two losses coming against the New York Giants, whose Umbrella Defense proved to be a source of frustration for the quarterback. The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the rival National Football League from 1946 to 1949. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Big Blue, G-Men Team colors Royal Blue, Red, Gray, and White Head Coach Tom Coughlin Owner Wellington Mara and Preston Robert Tisch (both now deceased) General manager Ernie Accorsi Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot {{{mascot}}} Local radio Flagship stations: WFAN (660 AM) Announcers...

While the Browns' defense would gain some revenge in the 8-3 playoff win against those same Giants, it was Graham's clutch play that gave them the NFL title one week later. Trailing the Los Angeles Rams by one point with 1:48 remaining and starting their drive at their own 31-yard line, Graham started with a 15-yard run, then followed with passes to receivers Rex Bumgardner and Dub Jones, before running one more play to set up Lou Groza's game-winning 16-yard field goal. City St. ... Louis Roy Groza (born January 25, 1924 - died November 29, 2000) was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio. ...

After signing a contract during the offseason that reportedly made him the highest-paid player in the game, Graham helped the 1951 team to 11 consecutive wins following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener. The streak helped him win NFL Player of the Year accolades, but more importantly, helped garner a return match against the Rams. 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Cardinal Red, Metallic Gold and Black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Scot McCloughan Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot Sourdough Sam Local radio Flagship stations: KNBR (680 AM & 1050 AM) and KSAN (107. ...

In contrast to the previous season which saw the Browns win with a late score, it would be the Rams that captured the game on a touchdown pass with 7:35 left in the game. Graham had been sharp in the game's first series, when he moved 54 yards on three pass plays for a quick 7-0 lead. Unfortunately, his later fumble helped set up a Ram touchdown, while a fourth quarter interception put a major dent in the Browns' comeback hopes.

During the 1952 campaign, Graham and the Browns proved to be consistent by winning two games, then losing one over the course of the year to finish with a 9-3 mark. The team's 37-34 loss to the New York Giants in the regular season finale proved to be an omen two weeks later when the Detroit Lions stopped the Browns by a 17-7 score. The pain of losing a second straight championship paled in comparison to the tragedy that befell Graham on January 2. While practicing for the Pro Bowl in Los Angeles, his six-week-old son Stephen died from a severe cold. 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Tackle during 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii A top cheerleader from each team takes part in the 2006 Pro Bowl in Hawaii The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ...

During the next season, Graham bounced back, scoring two touchdowns on quarterback sneaks and throwing for 292 yards in the season-opening 27-0 shutout of the Green Bay Packers. That victory would be the first of 11 straight for the Browns, whose bid for a perfect regular season ended one week later with a 42-27 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the 11-1 mark, the team came up short for the third consecutive year in the NFL Championship, falling 17-16 to the Detroit Lions. Bobby Layne's 33-yard pass to Jim Doran with less than three minutes remaining provided the heartbreak for the Browns. Note: Basketball teams from Chicago and Anderson once used the name Packers as well. ... City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Other nicknames The Birds, The Iggles Team colors Midnight Green, Silver, Black, and White Head Coach Andy Reid Owner Jeffrey Lurie General manager Tom Heckert Fight song Fly, Eagles Fly Mascot Swoop Local radio Flagship stations: WYSP (94. ... City Detroit, Michigan Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ...

Graham would go on to win Player of the Year honors that year, but became a painful footnote in the development of the football helmet facemask during a game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 15, 1953. With six minutes remaining in the second quarter, Graham was injured after receiving a blow to the jaw by a 49er player, but returned to the game after receiving 15 stitches. The injury compelled Paul Brown to work toward developing the prototype of what would become the facemask. A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Cardinal Red, Metallic Gold and Black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager Scot McCloughan Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot Sourdough Sam Local radio Flagship stations: KNBR (680 AM & 1050 AM) and KSAN (107. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Before the start of the Browns' 1954 training camp, Graham's name became connected to the infamous Sam Sheppard murder case. As one of the ostepath's neighbors, Graham and his wife were asked by police for information on Sheppard, with the signal caller noting that the couples had attended local stock car races four days before the murder. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dr. Samuel Holmes Sheppard (1923 – April 6, 1970) was a American osteopath [1] involved in a famous wrongful conviction. ...

Back on the field, the Browns got off to a sluggish start, dropping two of their first three contests. However, eight straight wins again helped put the team into the title game, facing the Detroit Lions for the third straight season. In what was expected to be his farewell to the game, Graham ran for three touchdowns and passed for three more in a 56-10 rout of the Lions. As expected, Graham announced his retirement following the game. City Detroit, Michigan Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ...

After his potential successors struggled during the 1955 training camp, Graham was convinced to come back following an appeal from Paul Brown. Shaking off the rust from his brief departure, he led the Browns to a 10-2 regular season mark, then officially closed out his playing career with a 38-14 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Championship on December 26, 1955. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City St. ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, 361st in leap years. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

During an astounding career in which the Browns compiled a 105-17-4 record, Graham's 86.6 career pass rating served as one of the best of all time, tossing 88 touchdowns in six seasons of NFL play. In his final year of play, Graham won the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year, and ten years later, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During the latter half of his career, Graham's popularity was such that he and his wife Beverly hosted a local television show in Cleveland entitled, At Home With the Graham's. The S. Ray Hickok Belt was a trophy awarded to the top professional athlete of the year. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame is technically the National Football Leagues Hall of Fame. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

After Retirement

Following his retirement, Graham served as head coach of the College All-Stars in their 1958 clash against the defending NFL champions, leading the squad to a convincing 35-19 victory over the Detroit Lions. The following year, he accepted a full-time position as head football coach at the Coast Guard Academy, where he served for seven seasons, leading the team to an undefeated campaign in 1963. City Detroit, Michigan Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ... The United States Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, Connecticut, is a U.S. military academy that provides education to future officers of the United States Coast Guard. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

Graham found time to return to professional football during the 1964 and 1965 seasons by moonlighting as a radio commentator for the American Football League's New York Jets. For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The term Moonlighting has two possible meanings: Moonlighting (employment) is doing a second job outside of normal working hours. ... AFL logo The American Football League (AFL) was a professional league of American football that operated from 1960 to 1969. ... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames {{{nicknames}}} Team colors Green and White Head Coach Eric Mangini Owner Robert Wood Johnson IV General manager Mike Tannenbaum Fight song {{{song}}} Mascot {{{mascot}}} Local radio Flagship stations: WABC (770 AM) and WEPN (1050 AM) Announcers: Marty Lyons and Bob Wischusen League/Conference...

NFL Coaching Career

Between 1966 and 1968, Graham coached the Washington Redskins, but whatever magic he had as an NFL player disappeared on the sidelines as the team recorded a mark of 17-22-3 during that time period. 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... City Landover, Maryland Other nicknames The Skins Team colors Burgundy and Gold Head Coach Joe Gibbs Owner Daniel Snyder General manager Joe Gibbs Fight song Hail to the Redskins Mascot {{{mascot}}} Local radio Flagship stations: WJFK 106. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ...

After resigning the Redskins' post in favor of the legendary Vince Lombardi, Graham returned as athletic director of the Coast Guard Academy before retiring at the end of 1984. Vincent Thomas Lombardi (June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was one of the most successful coaches in the history of football. ... Athletic director (more frequently, athletics director) is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs. ... The United States Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, Connecticut, is a U.S. military academy that provides education to future officers of the United States Coast Guard. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ironically, Graham and Lombardi would be linked again when Graham underwent surgery for colo-rectal cancer in 1977, the disease that claimed Lombardi's life seven years earlier. Graham subsequently became an vocal supporter of early detection of the disease. For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Death

Graham died of a heart aneurysm in Sarasota, Florida on December 17, 2003. [1] An aneurysm (or aneurism) (from Greek ανευρυσμα, a dilatation) is a localized dilation or ballooning of a blood vessel. ... Cà dZan Sarasota is a city located in Florida, USA. It is on the west coast of Florida in the central portion of the state. ...