Otto Graham

December 6, 1921, in Waukegan, Illinois, Otto Graham became one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the history of professional football after a stellar multi-sport career at Northwestern University.  

✦ College Career:

A gifted athlete, Graham excelled in football, basketball, and baseball for the Northwestern Wildcats. Initially on a basketball scholarship, he joined the football team and became an All-American halfback in 1943. That same year, he earned Big Ten MVP honors and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. In basketball, he was also an All-American, showcasing his remarkable versatility. Graham broke numerous Big Ten passing records during his time in Evanston and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.  

✦ Road to the Pro Game:

Graham was drafted into the NFL by the Detroit Lions in 1944, but his professional football career began in 1946 with the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Coached by the legendary Paul Brown, Graham was the first player signed to the new franchise. He quickly adapted to the T-formation offense, despite playing tailback in college's single-wing system.  

✦ Football Legacy:

Otto Graham's professional career with the Cleveland Browns was nothing short of legendary. He led the team to the league championship game in all ten of his seasons (four in the AAFC and six in the NFL), winning seven of them. The Browns were undefeated champions in 1948. Known for his athleticism, intelligence, and leadership, Graham was a dominant force, earning the nickname "Automatic Otto." He was a three-time NFL MVP and a two-time AAFC MVP. When he retired after the 1955 season, he held numerous league records and still holds the NFL record for career average yards gained per pass attempt. Many consider him one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1965, and his number 14 is retired by the Browns.  

✦ Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats:

✦ 7x Professional Football Champion (4 AAFC, 3 NFL)  

✦ 3x NFL Most Valuable Player (1951, 1953, 1955)  

✦ 2x AAFC Most Valuable Player (1947, 1948)

✦ 4x First-team All-Pro (NFL)

✦ 3x First-team All-AAFC  

✦ 5x Pro Bowl Selection  

✦ NFL 1950s All-Decade Team  

✦ NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

✦ Cleveland Browns No. 14 Retired

✦ Pro Football Hall of Fame (1965)  

✦ College Football Hall of Fame (1956)  

✦ Career Stats (AAFC & NFL): 2,626 Passing Attempts,

✦ 1,464 Completions, 23,584 Passing Yards, 174 Touchdowns, 135 Interceptions, 8.6 Yards Per Attempt.  

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com