- Byname of:
- Harold Edward Grange
- Born:
- June 13, 1903, Forksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Died:
- January 28, 1991, Lake Wales, Florida (aged 87)
- Awards And Honors:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1963)
- 2 NFL championships
- 2 All-Pro selections
- Education:
- University of Illinois
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 0 inches, 180 lb (1.83 m, 81 kg)
- Position:
- halfback, blocking back, defensive back, tailback
- Games Played:
- 96
- Rushing Attempts:
- 170
- Touchdowns:
- 21
- Yards Gained By Passing:
- 569
- Yards Per Attempt:
- 3.3
Red Grange
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Who was Red Grange?
Red Grange (1903-1991) was a celebrated American football halfback, broadcaster, and an important figure in popularizing professional football.
Grange played football at the University of Illinois from 1923–25 and was named an All-American halfback each season. In a game against Michigan in 1924, he scored four touchdowns in the first quarter alone, earning him the nickname "Galloping Ghost".
After college, Grange joined the Chicago Bears of the NFL in 1925, drawing large crowds and boosting the profile of professional football. He later played for the New York Yankees before returning to the Bears. After a knee injury in 1927, he became known as an excellent defensive back. After retiring from football, Grange had a 25-year career as a radio and television broadcaster. He was a charter member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1951) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).
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What position did Red Grange play in football?
Red Grange was a versatile American football player who played multiple positions. He was primarily known as a halfback, but he also played blocking back, defensive back, and tailback.
Grange's outstanding performances as a halfback at the University of Illinois earned him All-American honors for three seasons. His speed and elusive running style led to his nickname, "The Galloping Ghost." After college, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the New York Yankees, contributing significantly to the popularization of professional football.
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Why was Red Grange famous in American football history?
Red Grange, born Harold Edward Grange (1903-1991), was an American football halfback celebrated for his speed and elusive running style. Known as the "Galloping Ghost," he gained national fame in 1924 after scoring five touchdowns against Michigan.
After his last college game in 1925, Grange controversially left school to play professionally with the Chicago Bears. His presence significantly boosted the popularity of professional football, which was not highly regarded at the time. After a knee injury, Grange continued to play but was no longer as explosive. After retiring from football, Grange became a successful radio and television broadcaster. He was a charter member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1951) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).
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Which teams did Red Grange play for during his career?
Red Grange played for three teams during his football career. He gained fame as a halfback for the University of Illinois from 1923 to 1925, earning All-American honors each season. After college, Grange signed with the Chicago Bears of the NFL in 1925, contributing to the growth of professional football's popularity. In 1926, he played for the New York Yankees in the American Football League, a league he helped found, before returning to the Chicago Bears from 1929 to 1934.
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How did Red Grange help change professional football?
Red Grange, an outstanding halfback, significantly boosted professional football's popularity. After a sensational college career, Grange joined the Chicago Bears in 1925. His decision to turn pro generated controversy but drew large crowds to the Bears' games, demonstrating the potential for pro football's growth, which was not highly regarded by sports fans at the time. George Halas' signing of Grange also helped attract media attention to the struggling NFL. Grange's presence and performances helped transform pro football into a widely recognized spectacle.
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What impact did Red Grange have on the popularity of the NFL?
Red Grange significantly boosted the popularity of professional football. As a star at the University of Illinois, his decision to join the Chicago Bears in 1925 drew large crowds and media attention to the National Football League (NFL), which was then struggling for recognition. His presence demonstrated the potential for pro football's growth, attracting fans and media coverage. Grange's impact extended beyond the field, as he became the first well-known athlete to transition into a successful radio and television broadcaster, further popularizing the sport.
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Red Grange (born June 13, 1903, Forksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 28, 1991, Lake Wales, Florida) was an American collegiate and professional gridiron football player and broadcaster who was an outstanding halfback, known for spectacular long runs that made him one of the most famous players of the 20th century. He was an important influence in popularizing professional football.
Grange was a star football player at Wheaton (Illinois) High School before entering the University of Illinois in 1922. There he played football during the 1923–25 seasons and was selected as an All-American halfback each season. He became a national idol in 1924 when he turned in one of the most sensational single-day performances by an athlete in sports history. Against a highly rated Michigan team, Grange ran for touchdowns of 95, 67, 56, and 44 yards in the first quarter of play. In the second half he scored a fifth touchdown and threw a touchdown pass in a 39–14 Illinois victory. Grange was nicknamed the “Galloping Ghost” for his blinding speed and elusive running style.
The following year Grange delivered another spectacular performance in the East, where some sportswriters questioned his ability as well as the quality of Midwestern football. He led Illinois to a 24–2 victory over Pennsylvania, scoring three touchdowns and gaining 363 yards. After his last college game in 1925, Grange dropped out of school and signed a professional contract with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Amid much controversy over his decision to leave school and become a professional athlete, Grange drew huge crowds to the Bears’ final games that NFL season and on an extended barnstorming tour. He demonstrated the potential for the growth of pro football, a game that was not highly regarded at the time by many sports fans.
In 1926 Grange played for the New York Yankees in the American Football League, which he and his agent, Charles C. Pyle, founded. The league folded after one season, and the Yankees joined the NFL in 1927. Early that season Grange sustained a serious knee injury, and he sat out the 1928 season; he then returned to play for the Chicago Bears (1929–34). After his injury Grange was no longer the explosive runner he had been, but he remained a leading rusher in the NFL for a number of seasons and was also an excellent defensive back.
After his retirement from football, Grange became the first well-known athlete to become a successful radio and television broadcaster, with a career that spanned 25 years (1934–69). Grange was a charter member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1951) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).