17 Facts About Lin Houston

Lindell Lee Houston was an American football guard who played eight seasons in the All-America Football Conference and in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns.

Lin Houston played for coach Paul Brown during every phase of his football career: at Massillon High School, Ohio State and the Browns.

Lin Houston retired from football after the 1953 season and worked as an executive in the steel industry.

Lin Houston started as a middle guard on defense but was switched to an offensive guard, where he excelled.

Lin Houston played as a guard on the school's varsity football team starting as a sophomore in 1941 under Paul Brown, who had by then been hired as the school's head football coach.

Lin Houston sat out for two weeks with a knee injury but returned to finish the season, and in 1942 became a regular starter at right guard.

Lin Houston stayed at Ohio State but was not allowed by the Army to play on the football team.

Lin Houston signed in 1946 with the Cleveland Browns, a professional team under formation in the new All-America Football Conference and coached by Paul Brown.

Lin Houston became a starter when Bill Willis was ill in 1946.

In later seasons, Lin Houston rotated with Bob Gaudio as part of a system where Brown used guard substitutions to relay plays to his quarterback.

Lin Houston's job was to protect quarterback Otto Graham and open up running room for fullback Marion Motley.

Lin Houston played through a bad cold and injuries to his shoulder and face.

Lin Houston changed his mind and returned in 1953, when the Browns again reached the championship game but lost to the Detroit Lions.

Lin Houston retired for good in 1954, after 12 years playing for Paul Brown's teams.

Lin Houston left the game to concentrate on his job at the Sharon Steel Products Company.

Lin Houston spent much of his life after football as a steel executive.

Lin Houston died of cancer in 1995 and was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame in 2008.