Sam Gruneisen

Samuel “Sam” Kenneth Gruneisen, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, made his mark early as a standout football player at St. Xavier High School, graduating in 1958. He went on to play college football at Villanova University in Philadelphia, where he served as the Wildcats’ starting center and also contributed as a kicker. In the 1961 Sun Bowl, he played a pivotal role in Villanova’s 17–9 victory over Wichita State, kicking two extra points and a 26-yard field goal.

During his junior year at Villanova, Sam married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Reibel of Louisville—a loving partnership that would endure for over 50 years. His excellence on and off the field earned him induction into both the St. Xavier Hall of Honors and Villanova University’s Honorees Wall of Fame.

Sam’s talent caught the attention of the NFL, particularly a young assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers named Al Davis, who advocated for his selection. Gruneisen was drafted by the Chargers in the 25th round of the 1962 AFL Draft. He began his professional career as an offensive guard before transitioning to center in 1965. From 1965 to 1971, he started 86 consecutive games for the Chargers at center, a streak that ended only due to a knee injury. He remained with the team through the 1972 season and finished his playing career with the Houston Oilers in 1973.

After hanging up his cleats, Sam returned to the game as a coach, launching a career that spanned both collegiate and professional football. His coaching résumé included stints at the University of California (1981–1983), the USFL’s Los Angeles Express (1984–1985), San Jose State University (1986), the Los Angeles Raiders (1987–1990), Eastern Michigan University (1995–1998), and Gardner–Webb University (2000–2002).

Sam Gruneisen passed away on September 28, 2012, in Ocoee, Florida, at the age of 71.

Images licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Images from Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia.