Randy Grossman
Encyclopedia
Curt Randy Grossman is a former professional American football
player who played tight end
for eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the National Football League
.
) for the Temple Owls
in the early 1970s. In 1972, he caught 23 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns and Temple had a record of 5–4–0. The following year, Grossman was named Associated Press
All-America
third team and Temple notched a record of 9–1–0. That year, Grossman led the team in receptions with 96 for 2596 yards and 18 touchdowns; Temple outscored its opponents 353–167. Grossman finished his career at Temple with 189 receptions for 3569 yards and 29 touchdowns. Grossman was also a member of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity's Pa Alpha Delta Chapter.
early in Super Bowl X
. In 1976, they drafted tight end Bennie Cunningham
, behind whom Grossman played for two years, until the 1978 season when Cunningham was injured. Undersized and underweight, Grossman stepped up to the position and had a prolific season. In just 10 starts, Grossman had a career-high 37 receptions (the most by a Steeler tight end in 12 years) for 448 yards and 1 touchdown, and contributed to the Steelers Super Bowl XIII
win. Grossman would play 3 more years with the Steelers before retiring, earning 4 Super Bowl ring
s for Super Bowl IX
, Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII, and Super Bowl XIV
. Grossman said that his nickname of "The Rabbi" referred to his Jewish ancestry and came from Dwight White
, who was the authority for assigning such titles to the Steelers. He also said he never faced any anti-Semitism during his career, because “in sports -- in my era and currently -- it really is the great melting pot," he said. "If you ‘bring game,’ you’re fine. If you’re an imposter, then they’ll run you out regardless of what your religious preferences are or ethnic background is. It was obviously different in the ’60s, ’50s, ’40s, but from the time that I’ve been involved, it’s been completely open and purely performance-based acceptance or non-acceptance.”
Steelers President Dan Rooney
said of Grossman: "Randy Grossman was one of those guys who was never viewed as one of the superstars, but he did everything you asked him. He caught the big touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. He was one of those guys who got you the first down when he would go in and play. He was just a real good competitor who really proved his value. He was just a good team man."
Steelers Director of Personnel Art Rooney
, Jr., said that Grossman's hands were "the best", and that "he caught whatever was near him".
Quarterback Rex Grossman
He is married to Barb with three children and has one grandchild.
Randy is currently an independent financial advisor, his firm's name is Wealth Management Strategies, Inc., www.mywealthmgmt.com
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Early life
Grossman attended school in the Haverford area school district in suburban Philadelphia, where from a young age he would reply to the question, "What will you do when you grow up?" with the certain retort: "I'm going to be a professional football player." He was a varsity letterman in both football and wrestling at Haverford Senior High School. His father was a butcher.College career
Grossman was an outstanding tight end (and three-year starterStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
) for the Temple Owls
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
in the early 1970s. In 1972, he caught 23 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns and Temple had a record of 5–4–0. The following year, Grossman was named Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
third team and Temple notched a record of 9–1–0. That year, Grossman led the team in receptions with 96 for 2596 yards and 18 touchdowns; Temple outscored its opponents 353–167. Grossman finished his career at Temple with 189 receptions for 3569 yards and 29 touchdowns. Grossman was also a member of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity's Pa Alpha Delta Chapter.
NFL career
Grossman joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1974, wearing number 84. He showed his skill when he caught a crucial touchdown pass from Terry BradshawTerry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
early in Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
. In 1976, they drafted tight end Bennie Cunningham
Bennie Cunningham
Bennie Lee Cunningham, Jr. is a retired American football tight end.Cunningham was drafted out of the Clemson University in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers his entire career...
, behind whom Grossman played for two years, until the 1978 season when Cunningham was injured. Undersized and underweight, Grossman stepped up to the position and had a prolific season. In just 10 starts, Grossman had a career-high 37 receptions (the most by a Steeler tight end in 12 years) for 448 yards and 1 touchdown, and contributed to the Steelers Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
win. Grossman would play 3 more years with the Steelers before retiring, earning 4 Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
s for Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX
Super Bowl IX was an American football game played on January 12, 1975 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1974 regular season. It would be the last pro game at legendary Tulane Stadium...
, Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII, and Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
. Grossman said that his nickname of "The Rabbi" referred to his Jewish ancestry and came from Dwight White
Dwight White
Dwight Lynn White was an American football defensive end who played for ten seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League and was a member of the famed Steel Curtain defense....
, who was the authority for assigning such titles to the Steelers. He also said he never faced any anti-Semitism during his career, because “in sports -- in my era and currently -- it really is the great melting pot," he said. "If you ‘bring game,’ you’re fine. If you’re an imposter, then they’ll run you out regardless of what your religious preferences are or ethnic background is. It was obviously different in the ’60s, ’50s, ’40s, but from the time that I’ve been involved, it’s been completely open and purely performance-based acceptance or non-acceptance.”
NFL Career Statistics
- Games: 118
- Receptions: 118
- Receiving yards: 1514
- Receiving average: 12.7
- Touchdowns: 5
- Fumbles: 1
Steelers President Dan Rooney
Dan Rooney
Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooney is the United States Ambassador to Ireland. He is chairman emeritus of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League , which was founded by his father, Art Rooney. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions...
said of Grossman: "Randy Grossman was one of those guys who was never viewed as one of the superstars, but he did everything you asked him. He caught the big touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. He was one of those guys who got you the first down when he would go in and play. He was just a real good competitor who really proved his value. He was just a good team man."
Steelers Director of Personnel Art Rooney
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
, Jr., said that Grossman's hands were "the best", and that "he caught whatever was near him".
Personal career
Randy Grossman is not related to former Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Quarterback Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman
Rex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...
He is married to Barb with three children and has one grandchild.
See also
- List of select Jewish football players
Randy is currently an independent financial advisor, his firm's name is Wealth Management Strategies, Inc., www.mywealthmgmt.com