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“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 Grimm was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 1981 draft. Upon hearing the news he was drafted by Washington, Grimm stated to himself, ‘I’m going to Seattle”. During college, Grimm excelled at center and was also the reserve punter at the University of Pittsburgh. Taken as the 69th player overall, Grimm was moved to left guard and earned the starting role as a rookie for the Redskins.

Along with Jeff Bostic, Mark May, George Starke, and Joe Jacoby, Grimm was a founding member of the “Hogs”, the renowned offensive line for the Washington Redskins of the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Grimm soon gained much notice around the league. Along with Joe Jacoby, the pair formed what is perhaps the most punishing side of an offensive line in football is at the time or since. Capitalizing on Grimm’s speed and strength, the Redskins were able to use a dominating running attack that took them all the way to a victory in Super Bowl XVII. In that championship game, Hall of Fame fullback gained what was then a record 166 yards by following is offensive lineman.

During his 11 seasons with the Redskins, playing starting guard, Russ Grimm helped lead his team to 4 Super Bowl appearances and 3 Super Bowl wins (Super Bowl XVII in 1983, Super Bowl XXII in 1988, and Super Bowl XXVI in 1992). It was after beating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI that Russ Grimm announced his retirement.

As a result, Grimm was selected to 4 consecutive Pro Bowl games (1983-1986). During those same years he was also named an All-Pro. Grimm was also named to the All-NFC team during those 4 seasons.

“His intelligence and his ability to make things happen on the football field helped lead us to championships.”

One of the most feared guards of his era, Russ Grimm was elected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980’s.

“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

In 1987, Russ Grimm was moved to center from left guard during training camp and started 5 games at that position before a torn ligament in his left knee sidelined him until the season finale. In 1988, Grimm again suffered cartilage damage to his left knee which forced him to miss 11 games. Although he remained a huge force on the Redskins front line, he continued to battle injuries throughout the remainder of his career.

After hanging up his cleats, Russ Grimm returned to the Redskins as their Tight end coach from 1992-1996, and their offensive line coach from 1997 through 2000. After his time as a coach with the Redskins, Grimm joined the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers as their offensive line coach in September 2000. In 2004, he was promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line.

In 2004, after the Bears fired Dick Jauron, Grimm was considered for the vacant head coaching position that eventually went to Lovie Smith.

In 2005, Grimm added his 4th Super Bowl ring and first as a coach this as part of the Steelers. When Coach Cowher retired in 2007, Grimm was again considered for a head coaching position. The battle came down to Grimm, Ken Whisenhunt, and Mike Tomlin. The Arizona Cardinals hired Ken Whisenhunt as coach leaving the Steelers position down to Grimm and Tomlin. When Tomlin was hired, Russ Grimm joined his friend and fellow Steelers coach Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona as the Assistant Heads Coach/Offensive Line.

Russ Grimm is the 18th member if the Washington Redskins to be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame.

By Tilly: Jabberhead. SJ Contributing Author

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