17 Facts About Jim Grabowski

James Grabowski was born on September 9,1944 and is an American former football player and broadcaster.

Jim Grabowski played as a running back in the National Football League, primarily with the Green Bay Packers.

Jim Grabowski played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, earning consensus All-American honors in 1965.

Jim Grabowski was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL draft with the ninth overall pick.

Jim Grabowski played in the NFL for Green Bay and the Chicago Bears, winning two Super Bowls with the Packers.

Jim Grabowski was an analyst on Illinois football radio broadcasts for nearly 30 years, retiring after the 2006 season.

Jim Grabowski entered the University of Illinois in 1962, out of Taft High School in Chicago.

At Illinois, Jim Grabowski was a star running back, and was named Associated Press All-American in both 1964 and 1965.

Jim Grabowski received many awards and recognitions after his senior season in 1965, including finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting, being named The Sporting News co-player of the year and Back of the Year by the Washington Touchdown Club, and receiving the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player.

Jim Grabowski finished as the all-time leader in rushing yards in Big Ten history.

Jim Grabowski was an outstanding student at the University of Illinois, having been named GTE Academic All-American in 1964 and 1965, and graduated with a degree in finance in 1966.

Jim Grabowski is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1995.

Jim Grabowski was inducted into the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

Additionally, Jim Grabowski was named to the University of Illinois "All-Century" team, and is a member of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

Jim Grabowski was selected in the first round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, with the ninth overall selection, held on November 27,1965, only a week after his college playing career ended.

Jim Grabowski was the Packers' leading rusher in 1967 with 466 yards, while catching 12 passes for 171 more, but a late-season injury forced him to miss the postseason, including their win in Super Bowl II.

Over his six seasons in the NFL, Jim Grabowski rushed for 1,731 yards and scored 12 touchdowns: eight rushing, three receiving, and one after a fumble by Mel Renfro, which he returned for an 18-yard score in the 1966 NFL Championship Game versus the Dallas Cowboys.