On This Day

Otto Graham

Athlete

Otto Everett Graham Jr. (December 6, 1921 – December 17, 2003) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Graham is regarded by critics as one of the most dominant players of his era and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, having taken the Browns to league championship games every year between 1946 and 1955, making ten championship appearances, and winning seven of them. With Graham at quarterback, the Browns posted a record of 105 wins, 17 losses, and 4 ties, including a 9–3 win–loss record in the AAFC and NFL playoffs. Long-time New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a friend of Graham's, once called him "as great of a quarterback as there ever was."

Graham grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, the son of music teachers. He entered Northwestern University in 1940 on a basketball scholarship, but football soon became his main sport. After a brief stint in the military at the end of World War II, Graham played for the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1945–46 championship.

Notable For

American football player, coach, and executive

Otto Graham's Historical Timeline

  1. Otto Graham is born

    Otto Graham athlete, known for american football player, coach, and executive, was born on 1921-12-06. Otto Everett Graham Jr.

  2. Cleveland Browns' QB Otto Graham sets club record with 4 fumbles

    The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland.

Associated Historical Events

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Otto Graham born?
Otto Graham was born on 1921-12-06.
What is Otto Graham known for?
American football player, coach, and executive
What historical events involved Otto Graham?
Otto Graham was involved in 2 recorded historical events, including Otto Graham is born, Cleveland Browns' QB Otto Graham sets club record with 4 fumbles.
When did Otto Graham die?
Otto Graham died on 2003-01-01.

Related Years