Gillom, Horace
Born March 3 in Roanoke, Alabama was the legendary trilblazing end/punter of the Cleveland Browns, Horace...
Our Latest Book is Out
Explore the 1925 NFL season and the saga of an NFL franchise the Pottsville MaroonsMarooned:The Rise, The Fall, and The Redemption of the 1925 Pottsville Maroons
FREE Daily Sports History
You are only seconds away from receiving the Pigpen's Newsletter everyday filled with new items
SUBSCRIBE BY CLICKING
_________________________
"Gillom, Horace"
Born March 3 in Roanoke, Alabama was the legendary trilblazing end/punter of the Cleveland Browns, Horace Gillom.
- The 1948 Cleveland Browns Amazing Collection Pieces of Jeff Payne
- 1948 Cleveland Browns Undefeated Season
- Unveiling the 1950 NFL Championship: Browns vs. Rams
- The 1955 NFL Season: A Gridiron Crossroads Culminating in Cleveland Glory
- Upset in the Snow: Browns Maul Lions for '54 Title
- Gridiron Glory: Unraveling the 1951 NFL Championship
- Reliving the 1964 NFL Championship with Rich Shmelter
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Gillom, Horace, Cleveland Browns Franchise History, 3 NFL Teams Reposition, The 1948 Cleveland Browns Amazing Collection Pieces..., A Conference is Born: The Day the AFC Took Shape, Creation of the Cleveland Browns Franchise, The Cleveland Browns and their AAFC Team Story, Paul Brown, Cleveland Brown Franchise Awarded, 1948 Cleveland Browns Undefeated Season, Dante Lavelli Cleveland Browns Legendary End, Unveiling the 1950 NFL Championship: Browns vs. Rams, The 1955 NFL Season: A Gridiron Crossroads Culminating..., Upset in the Snow: Browns Maul Lions for '54 Title, Jim Brown: The Story of a Cleveland Legend, Gridiron Glory: Unraveling the 1951 NFL Championship, The Cleveland Browns' Historic 1950 Season, Frank Gatski Browns Hall of Fame Center, Ozzie Newsome College and Pro Football Hall of Fame..., Joe DeLamielleure Buffalo Bills Legend, Jerry Rhome Football Hall of Fame Profile, Jim Ray Smith Outstanding Lineman, Dante Lavelli and His Grip on Football, Jim Brown the NFL Running Back All Others Are Measured..., Dick Modzelewski The Bio of the Gridiron Legend, Henry Jordan A Force of Nature on the Gridiron, The Toe That Toppled Titans: Lou Groza's Enduring..., January 17th, 1988: A Night of Heartbreak & History..., Mac Speedie Cleveland Browns HOF End, Reliving the 1964 NFL Championship with Rich Shmelter, Retired Jersey Numbers of the Cleveland Browns, Leroy Kelly: From Morgan State to Browns Legend &..., Alex Agase Hall of Fame Guard/Linebacker of the Illini..., Cleveland Browns Legend, Hall of Fame Kicker &..., Paul Warfield: Poetry in Motion on the Gridiron, Otto Graham: Northwestern Star, Browns Legend &..., Joe Thomas The Indestructible Anchor: Forging a Legacy..., Tommy McDonald: Oklahoma's Little Giant and His The..., Willie Davis Champion Defensive End, Doug Atkins, Braylon Edwards Pro Bowl Caliber Wide Reciever, Mac Speedie: Bio on the Legend, Bill Willis: A Force of Nature Who Integrated the..., Len Dawson - Pro Football Hall of Fame bio, Ron Simmons: From Gridiron Great to Wrestling Legend, Bob Babich Star Lineman, Weldon Humble Hall of Fame Guard, The Unsung Hero of the Cleveland Browns Dynasty, The Cerebral Enforcer: Carl Banks's Championship Pedigree, Greg Pruitt and His Remarkable College and NFL Career
College Career
Horace Gillom played college football at Ohio State University. He was a standout player for the Buckeyes. After playing at Ohio State, Gillom transferred to the University of Nevada. In 1946, while at Nevada, he led the country in scoring and earned First-team All-PCC honors. However, he left Nevada after just one season due to academic issues.
Road to the Pro Game
Gillom's talent was evident despite his brief college career. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1947.
Football Legacy
Horace "Big Horse" Gillom was a versatile and impactful player for the Cleveland Browns for ten seasons, from 1947 to 1956, both in the AAFC and the NFL after the leagues merged. Notably, he became the first African American punter in NFL history. His punting skills were highly regarded; his coach, Paul Brown, considered him the best punter he had ever seen. Gillom revolutionized punting by standing further back from the center (15 yards instead of the usual 10-12), giving himself more room and time to execute high, long kicks with significant hang time, which limited punt returns. He also played end (receiver) and defensive end for the Browns. Gillom contributed to a dominant era for the Browns, helping them win three AAFC championships (1947-1949) and three NFL championships (1950, 1954, 1955).
Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats
✦ 3-time NFL Champion (1950, 1954, 1955)
✦ 3-time AAFC Champion (1947-1949)
✦ Pro Bowl (1952)
✦ First-team All-PCC (1946)
✦ Cleveland Browns Legend (2007)
✦ Led the country in scoring (1946)
✦ NFL Career Stats: 492 punts, 21,206 punt yards, 43.1-yard average (ranked 2nd all-time in NFL history at the time of his retirement).
✦ Holds the Cleveland Browns record for the longest punt (80 yards).
- AUBURN TIGERS 7/21/22 8/16/23 SEC SPORTS: Football
- AUTHOR: George Bozeka, Rich Shmelter, Robert Cohen
- BASEBALL NAME: Carl Banks
- DOB: August 29, December 04, December 06, December 28, February 17, February 25, January 25, July 24, July 26, June 20, March 03, March 27, May 15, May 20, October 05
- EVENTDAY: April 20, April 24, August 29, December 04, December 06, December 28, February 17, February 25, January 25, July 24, July 26, June 04, June 20, March 03, March 27, May 05, May 08, May 10, May 15, May 17, May 20, October 05
- FOOTBALL: Franchise Origins, Greatest NFL Games, NFL Champions, Collectibles, Retired NFL Jersey Numbers
- FOOTBALL LEAGUE: All America Football Conference, Fourth American Football League, World Football League
- FOOTBALL MONTH: February History, January History, March History
- FOOTBALL NAME: Alex Agase, Bill Willis, Bob Babich, Bob Waterfield, Braylon Edwards, Brown Jim, Brown Paul, Crazy Legs Hirsch, Dante Lavelli, Davis Willie, Dawson Len, Dick Modzelewski, Don Fleming, Doug Atkins, Ernie Davis, Ewbank Weeb, Ford Len, Frank Gatski, Gene Hickerson, George Halas, Gillom Horace, Graham Otto, Greg Pruitt, Groza Lou, Henry Jordan, Horace Gillom, Jerry Rhome, Jim Brown, Jim Ray Smith, Joe DeLamielleure, Joe Stydahar, Joe Thomas, Johnny Unitas, Lavelli Dante, Layne Bobby, Len Dawson, Leroy Kelly, Lou Groza, Lou Saban, Mac Speedie, Marion Motley, Motley Marion, Noll Chuck, Norm Van Brocklin, Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome, Paul Brown, Paul Warfield, Ron Simmons, Tommy McDonald, Walker Doak, Weldon Humble, Willie Davis
- FOOTBALL POSITION: Defensive End, Defensive Line, Full Back, Guard, Head Coach, Kicker, Linebacker, Punter, Quarterback, Runningback, Running Back, Tackle, Wide Receiver
- FOOTBALL TEAM: Alabama Crimson Tide, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Baylor Bears, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Florida State Seminoles, Green Bay Packers, Illinois Fighting Illini, Illinois Illini, India, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Marshall Thundering Herd, Memphis Southmen, Miami Dolphins, Miami Redhawks, Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, Nevada Wolf Pack, New York Giants, New York Jets, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Ole Miss Rebels, Ottowa Rough Riders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Rice Owls, SMU Mustangs, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Syracuse Orange, Tampa Bay Bandits, Tulse Golden Hurricanes, Utah Utes, Virginia Cavaliers, Washington Commanders, Washington Redskins, Wisconsin Badgers
- HOCKEY POSITION: Center
- NCAAF JERSEY: Number 17, Number 42, Number 50, Number 56, Number 59, Number 60, Number 70, Number 72, Number 76, Number 75, Number 82, Number 99
- NFL JERSEY: Jersey 16, Number 08, Number 14, Number 17, Number 22, Number 25, Number 29, Number 30, Number 32, Number 34, Number 35, Number 36, Number 38, Number 42, Number 44, Number 45, Number 46, Number 52, Number 56, Number 58, Number 59, Number 60, Number 62, Number 64, Number 66, Number 68, Number 70, Number 73, Number 74, Number 76, Number 77, Number 79, Number 81. NFL Jersey:Number 83. NCAAF Jersey:number 91, Number 82, Number 84, Number 86, Number 87, Number 88
- OTHER: "The Toe", AAFC Championships, All America Football Conference, Grambling State, Lou Groza Award, Massillon High School, NFL All-Decade Team, NFL Championships, Super Bowl XVIII, Footb, Football, Undefeated Teams
- PODCAST: Football
- PROFOOTBALL: 1948, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955
- SPORTS: Football, College Football Hall of Fame, Football Odds And Ends, Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football, Pro Football
- VIDEO: Football History Minute, Gridiron Legends
- HASHTAGS: #Football #GeorgeBozeka #RichShmelter #RobertCohen #CarlBanks #August29 #December04 #December06 #December28 #February17 #February25 #January25 #July24 #July26 #June20 #March03 #March27 #May15 #May20 #October05 #April20 #April24 #June04 #May05 #May08 #May10 #May17 #FranchiseOrigins #GreatestNFLGames #NFLChampions #Collectibles #RetiredNFLJerseyNumbers #AllAmericaFootballConference #FourthAmericanFootballLeague #WorldFootballLeague #FebruaryHistory #JanuaryHistory #MarchHistory #AlexAgase #BillWillis #BobBabich #BobWaterfield #BraylonEdwards #BrownJim #BrownPaul #CrazyLegsHirsch #DanteLavelli #DavisWillie #DawsonLen #DickModzelewski #DonFleming #DougAtkins #ErnieDavis #EwbankWeeb #FordLen #FrankGatski #GeneHickerson #GeorgeHalas #GillomHorace #GrahamOtto #GregPruitt #GrozaLou #HenryJordan #HoraceGillom #JerryRhome #JimBrown #JimRaySmith #JoeDeLamielleure #JoeStydahar #JoeThomas #JohnnyUnitas #LavelliDante #LayneBobby #LenDawson #LeroyKelly #LouGroza #LouSaban #MacSpeedie #MarionMotley #MotleyMarion #NollChuck #NormVanBrocklin #OttoGraham #OzzieNewsome #PaulBrown #PaulWarfield #RonSimmons #TommyMcDonald #WalkerDoak #WeldonHumble #WillieDavis #DefensiveEnd #DefensiveLine #FullBack #Guard #HeadCoach #Kicker #Linebacker #Punter #Quarterback #Runningback #RunningBack #Tackle #WideReceiver #AlabamaCrimsonTide #AtlantaFalcons #BaltimoreColts #BaltimoreRavens #BaylorBears #BuffaloBills #ChicagoBears #CincinnatiBengals #ClevelandBrowns #DallasCowboys #DenverBroncos #FloridaStateSeminoles #GreenBayPackers #IllinoisFightingIllini #IllinoisIllini #India #IndianapolisColts #KansasCityChiefs #LasVegasRaiders #LosAngelesRaiders #LosAngelesRams #MarshallThunderingHerd #MemphisSouthmen #MiamiDolphins #MiamiRedhawks #MichiganStateSpartans #MichiganWolverines #NevadaWolfPack #NewYorkGiants #NewYorkJets #NorthwesternWildcats #OhioStateBuckeyes #OklahomaSooners #OleMissRebels #OttowaRoughRiders #PhiladelphiaEagles #PittsburghSteelers #RiceOwls #SMUMustangs #SanDiegoChargers #SanFrancisco49ers #SeattleSeahawks #SyracuseOrange #TampaBayBandits #TulseGoldenHurricanes #UtahUtes #VirginiaCavaliers #WashingtonCommanders #WashingtonRedskins #WisconsinBadgers #Center #Number17 #Number42 #Number50 #Number56 #Number59 #Number60 #Number70 #Number72 #Number76 #Number75 #Number82 #Number99 #Jersey16 #Number08 #Number14 #Number22 #Number25 #Number29 #Number30 #Number32 #Number34 #Number35 #Number36 #Number38 #Number44 #Number45 #Number46 #Number52 #Number58 #Number62 #Number64 #Number66 #Number68 #Number73 #Number74 #Number77 #Number79 #Number84 #Number86 #Number87 #Number88 #AAFCChampionships #GramblingState #LouGrozaAward #MassillonHighSchool #NFLChampionships #SuperBowlXVIII #Footb #UndefeatedTeams #CollegeFootballHallofFame #FootballOddsAndEnds #ProFootballHallofFame #CollegeFootball #ProFootball #FootballHistoryMinute #GridironLegends
"Cleveland Browns Franchise History"
The Cleveland Browns boast a history as turbulent as that of the Great Lake beside which they reside. From their glorious beginnings as a powerhouse to their devastating Relocation and eventual rebirth, the Browns have become synonymous with resilience, passionate fandom, and the enduring hope for gridiron glory.
"3 NFL Teams Reposition"
May 17, 1969—The Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day comes from the December 10, 1969, Clarion-Ledger in Jacksonville, Mississippi, which placed in boldface print: “NFL Gives ‘69-’70 Schedule.” The article declares that the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers all agreed to leave the NFL to join the 10 AFL franchises in the new American Football Conference in the NFL as part of the merger of the two rival leagues.
NFL President and Browns owner Art Modell declared that the transfer of the three longtime NFL teams was to balance out the teams in the two conferences. In retrospect, it is interesting how much it also shifted the power of the conferences, as in the decade following the transfer, Baltimore and Pittsburgh accounted for five of the ten Super Bowl Titles.