Louis Roy Groza (born January 25, 1924 - died November 29, 2000) is an American football placekicker who played his entire career for the Cleveland Browns.

Born to Hungarian immigrants in Martins Ferry, Ohio, a decidedly athletic family, he was the smallest (at 6' 3") of three brothers. He played one season for Ohio State University, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega, before being drafted into the Army. Upon discharge, Groza joined the Browns, who were then in the All-America Football Conference. He stayed with the team until 1959. After a brief retirement, he returned to play from 1961-1967. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his 21 years of play was unprecedented up to that time, and when he retired, he was last of the original Browns still active.

While renowned for his kicking ability, Groza also played and started during most of his career as offensive tackle for the Browns. He was very proficient at both positions, named nine times to the NFL Pro Bowl and was All-NFL tackle six times. Groza also led the NFL in field goals in 1950, 1952-54, and 1957. In 1957, he also co-led the NFL in scoring. He was named the Sporting News' NFL Player of the Year in 1954. However, he played exclusively as a kicker during his second stint with the Browns.

Groza was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. His number 76 is retired by the Browns. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission established the Lou Groza Award in 1992, an award given to the best NCAA Division I kicker.

Lou Groza co-wrote a biography of his time playing football called "The Toe: The Lou Groza Story".

Groza was very close friends with Art Modell. However, when Groza died, Modell was unable to attend his funeral due to lingering resentment concerning the original Browns' departure from Cleveland.

External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame bio
• Lou Groza Award bio

Books

• Groza, Lou. (2003). ''The Toe: The Lou Groza Story". Cleveland: Gray & Company Publishers. ISBN 1886228809.

1924 births | 2000 deaths | American football kickers | American football offensive linemen | Ohio State Buckeyes football players | Pro Football Hall of Fame | People from Ohio | Cleveland Browns (AAFC) players | Cleveland Browns players | AFC Pro Bowl players | Hungarian-Americans