Age: 24
1st
season in pro football
College: Indiana
Height: 6’1” Weight: 215
Prelude:
Grossman’s
college years, which started in 1942, were interrupted by three years of
military service in World War II, after which he returned to play fullback,
linebacker and kicker in 1946 and quarterback in ‘47. He chose to give up his
final year of eligibility and turned pro. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him in
the 29th round of the NFL draft, but he signed with the Colts of the
AAFC.
1948 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Kicking
Field goals –
10 [1]
Most field
goals, game – 2 at New York 9/16, at Los Angeles 10/15
Field goal
attempts – 18 [2]
Field goal
percentage – 55.6 [1]
PATs – 43 [3]
PAT attempts
– 43 [3]
Longest field
goal – 51 yards vs. New York 9/5
Rushing
Attempts – 8
Yards – -3
Average gain
– -0.4
TDs – 0
Interceptions
Interceptions – 2
Interceptions – 2
Int. return
yards – 13
Int. TDs – 0
Scoring
Field Goals –
10
PATs – 43
Points – 73 [6]
Postseason: 1
G (AAFC Eastern Division Playoff at Buffalo)
Field goals –
1
Field goal
attempts – 2
PATs – 2
PAT attempts
– 2
Longest field
goal – 16 yards
Colts went 7-7
to tie for first in the AAFC Eastern Division while leading the league in
passing yards (2899) and field goals (10). Lost Divisional playoff to Buffalo
Bills (28-17).
Aftermath:
Grossman followed
up in 1949 by hitting on six of 11 field goal attempts as well as all 19 tries
for extra point and also punted 28 times for a 38.8-yard average. He moved on
to the NFL along with the Colts in ’50 and was dealt to Detroit during the
season. Traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1951, he chose to retire instead. Overall,
Grossman kicked 16 field goals in 32 attempts plus 78 extra points, for a total
of 126 points. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. His
grandson of the same name has played quarterback in the NFL, primarily with the
Bears and Redskins.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
