Thursday, November 30, 2000
Browns great Lou Groza dead at age 76
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND — Lou Groza, the Cleveland Browns' Hall of Fame kicker and lineman affectionately known as “The Toe”, died Wednesday night of an apparent heart attack. He was 76.
Groza died at Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights. In ill health in recent years, Groza was brought there a short time before his death.
The family asked the hospital not to release further details.
Groza, whose No. 76 was retired by the Browns, played 21 years in Cleveland from 1946-67 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
After starring at Ohio State, Groza was a starting offensive tackle for the Paul Brown-coached Cleveland teams that dominated the All-American Football Conference during the late 1940s and the NFL in the '50s.
He was an All-Pro tackle six times, and was selected the NFL's Player of the Year in 1954.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Groza finished his career with 1,608 points and is Cleveland's career scoring leader.
In 1950, Groza kicked a game-winning, 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the NFL championship game to help the Browns beat the Los Angeles Rams and win the title in their first season in the league.
Groza played in nine NFL championship games with the Browns, who won three titles during the 1950s and another in 1964.
In his MVP season of '54, Groza anchored the left side of the offensive line alongside guard Abe Gibron and center Frank Gatski, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Groza also made 16 of 24 field-goal attempts and 37 of 38 extra points.
A back injury forced him to take off the 1960 season but he returned the next year and spent his final seven years as a kicking specialist.
When the Browns won the title in 1964, Groza finished the season with 115 points, making 49 of 50 extra points and 22 field goals.
Groza remained one of the most beloved players in team history long after he retired. He kept his home in suburban Berea and was involved in many of the team's alumni activities.
When former owner Art Modell moved the Browns franchise to Baltimore after the 1995 season, Groza was one of the more vocal former players who urged the NFL to bring a team back to Cleveland.
Last year, the new Browns honored Groza by renaming the street in front of their Berea training facility Lou Groza Boulevard. The facility is 76 Lou Groza Boulevard.
And although his health was failing, Groza was at training camp this summer to see the new Browns prepare for their second year back in the league.
Sports Stories
Brown stirs QB controversy
Bengals make 3 roster moves
Cardinals QB Plummer returns
Monroe was key piece to XU schedule
XU women 88, Chicago State 34
UC 82, Dayton 75
SULLIVAN: These aren't Kenyon's Bearcats
Huggins' hard practices translate to effort
Women: Wis.-Green Bay 90, UC 68
Dig a little deeper for Reds games
Browns great Lou Groza dead at age 76
