GRAHAM, OTTO (EVERETT, JR.)

born Dec. 6, 1921, Waukegan, Ill., U.S. byname Automatic Otto American collegiate and professional football player and coach, best remembered as the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns during a 10-year period in which they won 105 games, lost 17, and tied 5 in regular-season play and won 7 of 10 championship games. Graham was an all-around athlete in high school. At Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.; 1941-43) he was named All-American in football (1943), and in 1944 he joined the Navy and trained as an aircraft pilot. He was sent to Colgate University (Hamilton, N.Y.), where he played basketball and was named All-American. Graham began his professional career in sports playing for the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League. He then switched to football, playing for the Cleveland Browns (All America Football Conference, 1946-49; the National Football League , 1950-55). As a professional player he switched from his collegiate position at tailback to quarterback. He led his league as a passer in six seasons; in the 1950 NFL championship game he passed for four touchdowns; in the 1954 championship game he passed for three and ran for three more. His career average yardage per pass of 8.63 yards was not surpassed until the 1980s. His passing average in 1955 was 10.55 yards. He was elected to the football Hall of Fame in 1965. After retiring as a player he was head coach and athletic director of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Conn.; 1959-66). He then served as general manager and coach of the NFL Washington Redskins (1966-68), returning in 1970 as athletic director of the Coast Guard Academy, attaining the rank of captain. He retired in 1984.