Notes & Quotes: Russ Grimm

Russ Grimm is the 18th long-time member of the Washington Redskins to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Russ Grimm's HOF Bio>>>
 

Notes

Russ Grimm and Rickey Jackson represent one of only two tandems of Hall of Famers to be inducted in the same class (2010) to have played together in college (Pitt) and drafted into the NFL in the same year (1981). The other duo was Gino Marchetti and Ollie Matson who together at the University of San Francisco, were drafted into the NFL in 1952, and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

Grimm was recruited to Pitt to play linebacker and quarterback. When the team pressured him to move to offensive line, he considered transferring but eventually agreed to the change.

Russ' son Cody Grimm, who was a standout safety at Virginia Tech, was selected in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

During the 1981 NFL Draft, Washington traded their first round pick in the 1982 Draft to the Los Angeles Rams in order to move up into the third round to pick Grimm. The following year, the Rams used the choice to select University of Richmond fullback Barry Redden who played nine years in the NFL with the Rams, San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns.

Although Grimm played mainly at guard, he started many games at tackle and center due to injury of his line mates.

Grimm was part of an offensive line that paved the way for John Riggins to rush for a then record 166 yards in Super Bowl XVII. Four years later, he blocked for Timmy Smith who ran for a record 204 yards in Super Bowl XXII.

Grimm is just the 13th Pro Football Hall of Famer to play/coach and win his final game in a league championship or Super Bowl. His swan song came in the Redskins' 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.

Quotes

"The thing that impressed me about him is his toughness. This guy played with more things wrong with him, and a lot of people didn't know that especially when it came to his knees. And he did a good job. He was relentless." - Joe Washington, former Redskins running back

"Regardless of the opponent, he is consistent. He plays well every week. You don't have to do anything to get him up. He likes the game and he understands what we're trying to accomplish." - Joe Bugel, former Redskins offensive line coach

"He was one of the most complete football players, and people, that I've ever coached. He could play all the positions – center, guard and tackle. He was the leader by example. He wasn't a loudmouth. He just came to work every day. It's a well-deserved honor for a great, great football player and a great, great friend." - Joe Bugel, former Redskins offensive line coach

"I believed it. I had the desire. That's all I wanted to be (a football player). A lot of guys go to college for a degree. I went to college to play football. I went to college because I had to go to college to get to the pros. To me, football is what I do best. I'm not the type of guy to sit behind a desk." - Russ Grimm

"Russ was the consummate athlete, everything came easy to him. He was exceptionally quick, had great feet, very fine strength, and was a very smart player. Russ was a great puller, a great trapper, could make terrific adjustments in ball games. He had it all." - Jim Hanifan, former Redskins offensive line coach

"He was probably one of the smartest individuals as far as a football mind; as far as the intricacies of the game, figuring out something, blocking schemes, game plans." - Joe Jacoby, former "Hog" and Redskins tackle

"The success I had as a player, or the career I had as a player, is often based on the guys you play beside, the guys you play with. Playing on the offensive line, you're only as good as your weakest guy up front. I was blessed to play with a lot of guys for a long time." -Russ Grimm

"Our Redskins fans have always appreciated the Hogs. This is a long deserved honor and we are proud to have Russ as a member of the Hall of Fame. Hopefully Russ is the first of the Hogs to be inducted in Canton representing one of the greatest offensive lines in NFL history." - Daniel Snyder, Washington Redskins owner

"He really embodies what I think an offensive lineman is all about. He was the toughest guy on the block." - Doc Walker, former teammate