The Los Angeles Rams drafted Andy Robustelli, an end from tiny Arnold College, in the nineteenth round of the 1951 National Football League Draft. A long shot to make the team as an offensive end since the Rams already had such stars as Tom Fears and Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, Robustelli responded in the only way he knew how – to go all out to make good at what was available to him, the defensive unit.
History will record that Andy became one of the finest defensive ends in pro football history, playing five years with the Rams and then nine years with the New York Giants. He was a regular for the Rams’ 1951 championship team, and the one game he missed that season was the only one he missed in 14 NFL seasons.
After five outstanding seasons in Los Angeles, the Rams dealt him to the Giants for a first-round draft pick. Andy performed even better in New York, and is credited with molding together the 1956 Giants team that won the NFL championship.
A natural leader as well as an outstanding player, Robustelli was a big factor in the Giants on-field success. He stayed with the New York team for nine seasons, the last three as a player-coach. Robustelli was not big for a modern-day defensive end, weighing only 230 pounds, but was clearly one of the finest pass rushers the game has seen.
He was named All-Pro seven times and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times. In 1962 the Maxwell Club selected Robustelli as the NFL’s outstanding player, an honor that up until then was generally reserved for an offensive player. The honor was indicative of the high regard that fans, teammates and opponents all held for the future Hall of Fame defensive end.
1951 NFL – Los Angeles Rams 24, Cleveland Browns 17
Robustelli did not start but played at defensive end for the Rams. Statistics not available
1955 NFL – Cleveland Browns 38, Los Angeles Rams 14
Robustelli started at defensive end for the Rams. Statistics not available
1956 NFL – New York Giants 47, Chicago Bears 7
Robustelli started at defensive end for the Giants and he recovered a fumble.
1958 NFL – Baltimore Colts 23, New York Giants 17 (overtime)
Robustelli started at defensive end for the Giants in NFL’s first overtime playoff game. He was credited with a tackle on the quarterback for an 11-yard loss
1959 NFL – Baltimore Colts 31, New York Giants 16
Robustelli started at defensive end for the Giants. Statistics not available
1961 NFL – Green Bay Packers 37, New York Giants 0
Robustelli started at right defensive end for the Giants. Statistics not available
1962 NFL – Green Bay Packers 16, New York Giants 7
Robustelli started at right defensive end for the Giants. He was credited with two tackles and one quarterback hurry.
1963 NFL – Chicago Bears 14, New York Giants 10
Robustelli started at right defensive end for the Giants. He was credited with three tackles which included a tackle of the quarterback for a 9-yard loss.
All-NFL: 1953 (AP), 1955 (AP, SN), 1956 (AP, UPI, NY), 1957 (UPI, NY), 1958 (AP), 1959 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1960 (AP)
All-NFL Second Team: 1952 (AP, NY), 1953 (UPI, NY), 1954 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1955 (UPI, NEA), 1956 (NEA), 1957 (AP, NEA), 1958 (UPI, NEA), 1960 (UPI, NEA, NY), 1961 (UPI, NEA, NY), 1962 (AP, UPI)
All Eastern Conference: 1956 (SN), 1958 (SN), 1959 (SN), 1961 (SN)
(7) – 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962
(at time of his retirement following 1964 season)
• [1st] Most Opponents’ Fumbles Recovered, Career – 22
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Played, Career – 164 (1952-1964)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Games Played, Career – 175 (1951-1964)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons, Active Player – 14 (1951-1964)
Championship Game Records
• [Tied for 1st] Most Games Played – 8 (1951, 1955, 1956, 1958-59, 1961-63)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Opponents’ Fumbles Recovered, Career – 2
• 1962 Most Valuable Player (Maxwell Club)
| 1951 |
Los Angeles Rams |
8 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1952 |
Los Angeles Rams |
9 |
3 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1953 |
Los Angeles Rams |
8 |
3 |
1 |
(3rd) |
| 1954 |
Los Angeles Rams |
6 |
5 |
1 |
(3rd) |
| 1955 |
Los Angeles Rams |
8 |
3 |
1 |
(1st) |
| 1956 |
New York Giants |
8 |
3 |
1 |
(1st) |
| 1957 |
New York Giants |
7 |
5 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1958 |
New York Giants |
9 |
3 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1959 |
New York Giants |
10 |
2 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1960 |
New York Giants |
6 |
4 |
2 |
(3rd) |
| 1961 |
New York Giants |
10 |
3 |
1 |
(1st) |
| 1962 |
New York Giants |
12 |
2 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1963 |
New York Giants |
11 |
3 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1964 |
New York Giants |
2 |
10 |
2 |
(7th) |
Full Name: Andrew Richard Robustelli
Birthdate: December 6, 1925
Birthplace: Stamford, Connecticut
Died: May 31, 2011
High School: Stamford (CT); LaSalle Miltary Academy (Oakdale, NY)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 16, 1971
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 31, 1971
Presenter: J. Walter Kennedy, Commissioner - NBA
Other Members of Class of 1971: Jim Brown,
Bill Hewitt,
Frank "Bruiser" Kinard,
Vince Lombardi,
Y.A. Tittle,
Norm Van Brocklin
Pro Career: 14 Seasons, 175 games
Drafted: 19th round (228th player overall) in 1951 by Los Angeles Rams
Transactions: July 28, 1956 – Robustelli was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the New York Giants in exchange for 1st round draft pick in 1957 (Del Shofner, B, Baylor, 11th overall)
Uniform Number: 81 (Giants), 84 (Rams)