Lou Groza
Inducted:
1974
Player Stats
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
Born:
January 25, 1924
Martins Ferry, Ohio, U.S.
Died:
November 29, 2000
Middleburg Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Position:
Offensive tackle
Placekicker
College:
Ohio State
Lou Groza was one of the NFL’s earliest and most versatile stars, known both as a dominant offensive tackle and a pioneering placekicker. Playing his entire career for the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1967, Groza helped lead the team to multiple championships in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the NFL.
Nicknamed "The Toe," he was one of the first players to popularize the use of the placekick, revolutionizing scoring in professional football. Groza’s longevity and consistency made him a key figure for the Browns, contributing to their dominance in the 1950s. His strong blocking and reliable kicking helped shape the modern NFL, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Groza's Awards and Honors
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1954)
- 4× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
- 4× AAFC champion (1946–1949)
- 4× First-team All-Pro (1952–1955)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1956, 1957)
NFL Records
- NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
- NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL scoring leader (1957)
- Most seasons played with a single team at the time of his retirement
- First offensive lineman to also lead the league in scoring (1957)
- First player in NFL history to be recognized as an elite dual-position athlete
NFL Team
Cleveland Browns (1946–1959; 1961–1967)
