Background and career
Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier (born July 14, 1932) is an American former football player, bodyguard, actor, singer, Protestant minister, fiber artist, and motivational speaker. He played professionally as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams where he was a member of the original "Fearsome Foursome". Grier played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning All-America honors and a place in the NCAA 100th anniversary list of 100 most influential student athletes. A professional football player for 12 seasons in the NFL, Grier was a member of the New York Giants and the original Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams. He played in the Pro Bowl twice, was selected All-Pro multiple times, and won the 1956 NFL championship with the Giants in the pre Super Bowl era. After Grier's professional sports career in the NFL, he worked as a bodyguard for Senator Robert Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign. Grier was guarding Ethel Kennedy when Senator Kennedy was shot. Although unable to prevent the assassination, Grier took control of the gun and subdued the shooter, Sirhan Sirhan. Grier hosted his own Los Angeles television show and as an actor made approximately 70 appearances on various TV shows during the 1960s and 1970s. Grier became an ordained Protestant minister in 1983. He founded American Neighborhood Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that serves inner city youth. He also travels as an inspirational speaker. Among Grier's hobbies are crocheting, knitting, needlepoint and macramé. In 1972, Grier wrote Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men, a book that was published by Walker and Company on January 1, 1973.
Grier was born on July 14, 1932, in Cuthbert, Georgia, one of twelve children. He was named after presidential candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Grier's father grew sugar cane and peanuts where Grier and his siblings worked. Due to the need to work and the distance to walk to school, Grier was only able to attend school three times a week at this time. After World War II, when Grier was still in elementary school, the family moved to Roselle, New Jersey for more stable work opportunities. Grier was able to attend school regularly and ultimately played football at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle and graduated in 1951. While in high school, Grier became a star athlete. At 6'5" Grier played both offense and defense line positions. He studied smaller players and developed explosive speed and quick footwork for his size. Grier also excelled in track and field in the shot put, discus, and javelin events in high school.
Colleges began scouting Grier while in high school. Ultimately, Penn State University offered Grier a track scholarship, which he accepted, and also played football for the Nittany Lions where he was a four-year starter and All American (in shot put). Grier was known as a dominant lineman playing both ways. During Grier's time at Penn State under coach Rip Engle, from 1952 to 1953, the team had 20 wins, 7 losses, 1 tie.
1952 Penn State Nittany Lions football team 1953 Penn State Nittany Lions football team 1954 Penn State Nittany Lions football team During these days of early desegregation, Grier had to deal with animosity from opponents, especially when travelling to away games in the South such as Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. Grier also excelled in track and field in shot put, discus, and javelin while at Penn State. He was captain of the track team. In track, he won the IC4A and Penn Relays shot put and discus, as well as qualifying for the javelin finals. He was a Track & Field All-American in 1954 and 1955. Grier was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Grier was noted as being engaging by other students and developed interests outside of sports that remains through his life. “He was a big human being,” Penn State teammate Lenny Moore said, “but just as nice and truthful as you could be.” Grier earned his degree in 1956.
After playing college football at Penn State University, Grier was the 31st overall pick of the 1955 NFL draft, taken in the third round by the New York Giants. At the time Jim Lee Howell was the coach. He started in 85 games with the Giants as a defensive tackle from 1955 through 1962. This included playing in an NFL Championship in 1956 and five Eastern Conference titles (1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962). As a stand out tackle, Grier worked with Tom Landry as Landry developed his flex defense later utilized with the Cowboys. Grier was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1956 and 1960, and was named All-Pro defensive tackle in 1956 and 1958–1962. The Giants defense at the time, had become so significant to their success that they began the then unheard of practice at the time of announcing the defense unit instead of the offense before the game.
1955 New York Giants 1956 New York Giants 1957 New York Giants 1958 New York Giants 1959 New York Giants 1960 New York Giants 1961 New York Giants 1962 New York Giants
