Grabowski played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, earning consensus All-American honors in 1965. He was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft with the ninth overall pick. Grabowski played in the NFL for Green Bay and the Chicago Bears, winning two Super Bowls with the Packers. He was an analyst on Illinois football radio broadcasts for nearly 30 years, retiring after the 2006 season.
Grabowski entered the University of Illinois in 1962, out of Taft High School in Chicago. At Illinois, Grabowski was a star running back, and was named Associated PressAll-American in both 1964 and 1965. As a sophomore in 1963, Grabowski was named Most Valuable Player of the Rose Bowl, after leading the Fighting Illini to a 17–7 comeback victory over the Washington Huskies.[1] Grabowski received many awards and recognitions after his senior season in 1965, including finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting, being named The Sporting News co-player of the year and Back of the Year by the Washington Touchdown Club, and receiving the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player. He finished as the all-time leader in rushing yards in Big Ten history. Grabowski was also an outstanding student at the University of Illinois, having been named GTE Academic All-American in 1964 and 1965, and graduated with a degree in finance in 1966.
1963: 141 carries for 616 yards and 7 TD. 3 catches for 21 yards.[2]
1964: 186 carries for 1004 yards and 10 TD. 9 catches for 101 yards.
1965: 252 carries for 1258 yards and 7 TD. 3 catches for 22 yards.
Professional playing careeredit
Grabowski was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, with the ninth overall selection, held on November 27, 1965, only a week after his college playing career ended. (Grabowski was also taken as the first overall pick in the AFL draft, by the expansion Miami Dolphins.)[3] Grabowski played five seasons for the Packers, and was known as one of Green Bay's "Gold Dust Twins" (along with fellow rookie running back Donny Anderson) in the late Sixties.[4][5]
After he gained the starting position in 1967, a series of injuries hampered his career. He was the Packers' leading rusher in 1967 with 466 yards, while also catching 12 passes for 171 more, but a late-season injury forced him to miss the postseason, including their win in Super Bowl II. With a new head coach in 1971, Grabowski was waived by Green Bay in August,[6][7] picked up by the Chicago Bears for the season, and retired in training camp in September 1972.[8] Over his six seasons in the NFL, Grabowski rushed for 1,731 yards and scored 12 touchdowns: eight rushing, three receiving, and one after a fumble by Mel Renfro, which he returned for an 18-yard score in the 1966 NFL Championship Game versus the Dallas Cowboys.
Referencesedit
^Myers, Bob (January 2, 1964). "Illinois' Jim Grabowski, smart defense defeat crippled, gallant Washington 17-7". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. p. 16.
^. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
^"Miami grabs Jim Grabowski". Palm Beach Post. Florida. Associated Press. November 28, 1965. p. D1.
^Lea, Bud (October 20, 1966). "Donny, Jim may see more play". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
^Gross, Milton (October 23, 1967). "Jim Grabowski makes amends with Packers". Pittsburgh Press. North American Alliance. p. 47.
^Lea, Bud (August 19, 1971). "Grabowski, Clancy cut by Packers". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
^"Pack asks waivers on Jim Grabowski". Schenectady Gazette. New York. Associated Press. August 19, 1971. p. 41.
^"Jim Grabowski quits pro ball". Bryan Times. Ohio. UPI. September 2, 1971. p. 7.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
April 10, 2024
grabowski, james, grabowski, born, september, 1944, american, former, football, player, broadcaster, played, running, back, national, football, league, primarily, with, green, packers, 33position, halfbackpersonal, informationborn, 1944, september, 1944, chica. James Grabowski born September 9 1944 is an American former football player and broadcaster He played as a running back in the National Football League NFL primarily with the Green Bay Packers Jim GrabowskiNo 33Position HalfbackPersonal informationBorn 1944 09 09 September 9 1944 age 79 Chicago Illinois U S Height 6 ft 2 in 1 88 m Weight 220 lb 100 kg Career informationHigh school Taft Chicago College IllinoisNFL draft 1966 Round 1 Pick 9AFL draft 1966 Round 1 Pick 1Career historyGreen Bay Packers 1966 1970 Chicago Bears 1971 Career highlights and awards2 NFL champion 1966 1967 2 Super Bowl champion I II Sporting News Player of the Year 1965 Consensus All American 1965 First team All American 1964 2 First team All Big Ten 1964 1965 Career NFL statisticsRushing yards 1 731Rush attempts 475Rushing touchdowns 8Receptions 82Receiving yards 675Player stats at NFL com PFRCollege Football Hall of FameGrabowski played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini earning consensus All American honors in 1965 He was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft with the ninth overall pick Grabowski played in the NFL for Green Bay and the Chicago Bears winning two Super Bowls with the Packers He was an analyst on Illinois football radio broadcasts for nearly 30 years retiring after the 2006 season Contents 1 Collegiate playing career 2 Professional playing career 3 References 4 External linksCollegiate playing career editGrabowski entered the University of Illinois in 1962 out of Taft High School in Chicago At Illinois Grabowski was a star running back and was named Associated Press All American in both 1964 and 1965 As a sophomore in 1963 Grabowski was named Most Valuable Player of the Rose Bowl after leading the Fighting Illini to a 17 7 comeback victory over the Washington Huskies 1 Grabowski received many awards and recognitions after his senior season in 1965 including finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting being named The Sporting News co player of the year and Back of the Year by the Washington Touchdown Club and receiving the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player He finished as the all time leader in rushing yards in Big Ten history Grabowski was also an outstanding student at the University of Illinois having been named GTE Academic All American in 1964 and 1965 and graduated with a degree in finance in 1966 Grabowski is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame inducted in 1995 He was also inducted into the GTE Academic All American Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Additionally Grabowski was named to the University of Illinois All Century team and is a member of the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame 1963 141 carries for 616 yards and 7 TD 3 catches for 21 yards 2 1964 186 carries for 1004 yards and 10 TD 9 catches for 101 yards 1965 252 carries for 1258 yards and 7 TD 3 catches for 22 yards Professional playing career editGrabowski was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers with the ninth overall selection held on November 27 1965 only a week after his college playing career ended Grabowski was also taken as the first overall pick in the AFL draft by the expansion Miami Dolphins 3 Grabowski played five seasons for the Packers and was known as one of Green Bay s Gold Dust Twins along with fellow rookie running back Donny Anderson in the late Sixties 4 5 After he gained the starting position in 1967 a series of injuries hampered his career He was the Packers leading rusher in 1967 with 466 yards while also catching 12 passes for 171 more but a late season injury forced him to miss the postseason including their win in Super Bowl II With a new head coach in 1971 Grabowski was waived by Green Bay in August 6 7 picked up by the Chicago Bears for the season and retired in training camp in September 1972 8 Over his six seasons in the NFL Grabowski rushed for 1 731 yards and scored 12 touchdowns eight rushing three receiving and one after a fumble by Mel Renfro which he returned for an 18 yard score in the 1966 NFL Championship Game versus the Dallas Cowboys References edit Myers Bob January 2 1964 Illinois Jim Grabowski smart defense defeat crippled gallant Washington 17 7 Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press p 16 Jim Grabowski Stats College Football at Sports Reference com Archived from the original on June 3 2015 Retrieved May 16 2015 Miami grabs Jim Grabowski Palm Beach Post Florida Associated Press November 28 1965 p D1 Lea Bud October 20 1966 Donny Jim may see more play Milwaukee Sentinel p 1 part 2 Gross Milton October 23 1967 Jim Grabowski makes amends with Packers Pittsburgh Press North American Alliance p 47 Lea Bud August 19 1971 Grabowski Clancy cut by Packers Milwaukee Sentinel p 1 part 2 Pack asks waivers on Jim Grabowski Schenectady Gazette New York Associated Press August 19 1971 p 41 Jim Grabowski quits pro ball Bryan Times Ohio UPI September 2 1971 p 7 External links editCareer statistics and player information from NFL com Pro Football Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Grabowski amp oldid 1216442927, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
