Dante Lavelli

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Dante Lavelli
Positions:
End , DE 		Jersey numbers:
56, 86
born on February 23, 1923 in Hudson , Ohio
died on January 10, 2009 in Cleveland , Ohio
Career information
Active : 1946 - 1956
College : Ohio State University
Teams
Career statistics
Games     123
Touchdowns     62
Gaining space through passing play     6,488 yards
Stats at pro-football-reference.com
Career highlights and awards
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dante Bert Joseph Lavelli (born February 23, 1923 in Hudson , Ohio , USA , † January 10, 2009 in Cleveland , Ohio), nickname : "Gluefingers", was an American football player. He played, among other things, as an end in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns .

Player career

College career

Dante Lavelli's family came from Italy and immigrated to the USA in 1905. He attended high school in his hometown , where he played American football as a quarterback . He and his team remained undefeated for three years. In 1942 Lavelli played as a teammate of Bill Willis three games as halfback for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the college football team at Ohio State University . After an injury he had to end the season early and was drafted by the US Army after the first year of study . He landed at Omaha Beach as a D-Day soldier during World War II . After his discharge from the army he decided his studies no longer continue and an offer from his former coach at the College Paul Brown to assume the newly formed Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference trained (AAFC).

Professional career

Dante Lavelli was signed by the Cleveland Browns in 1946. For the team from Cleveland, he played as end and defensive end . The Browns were the dominant team in the AAFC - a competitive league of the NFL. Several later members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame played in their ranks , such as quarterback Otto Graham , his former teammate with the Ohio State Buckeyes Bill Willis and running back Marion Motley . In 1946 they won the AAFC final against the New York Yankees 14-9. Lavelli scored the game-winning touchdown due to a pass from Graham . In 1947 the Yankees were defeated 14-3 in the final. In 1948 and 1949 Lavelli won his third and fourth AAFC championship titles, the Browns defeated the Buffalo Bills 49-7 in the 1948 final and the San Francisco 49ers 21-7 the following year .

The AAFC had to cease playing due to financial difficulties after the 1949 season. The Browns were inducted into the NFL. Their triumphant advance continued in the NFL. In the 1950 NFL final, they beat the Los Angeles Rams by 30:28. Lavelli was able to contribute to the victory of his team with two touchdowns. In 1951 the Browns' winning streak ended. For the first time they lost in a final. The Rams were able to prevail against the Browns with 24:17. After a weaker season in 1952, the Browns moved back to the NFL final in 1953. Opponents were the Detroit Lions , who could just prevail with 17:16. In 1954, the Browns were able to retaliate for their defeat and defeated the Lions in the final with 56:10. In his penultimate year 1955 Lavelli was able to win his seventh title. The Rams lost 38:14 to the Browns and Lavelli scored his fourth touchdown in a final.

After the 1956 season, Dante Lavelli ended his career. Lavelli played at a time when the pass was becoming increasingly important in the game system of football teams. In particular, the interaction between Graham and Lavelli, as well as the powerful runs of Marion Motley, were the reasons for the success of the Cleveland Browns. His ability to catch football safely prompted a reporter to nickname Dante Lavelli: "Gluefingers". In his rookie year , he set the NFL annual best in both the pass catches and the space gained through it.

According to the NFL

Dante Lavelli ran a furniture company after his playing career. He is buried in Saint Marys Cemetery in Hudson. Lavelli was married for 53 years and had three children.

Honors

Dante Lavelli played three times in the Pro Bowl , the final game of the best players of the season. He was voted All-Pro six times . The Browns honor him in the Cleveland Browns Honor Roll. He is a member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team , the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Annual statistics of the Bowns 1946
  2. ↑ AAFC final 1946 - statistics
  3. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns, 1947
  4. ^ AAFC final 1947 - statistics
  5. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1948
  6. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1949
  7. ↑ AAFC final 1948 - statistics
  8. ^ AAFC Final 1949 - Statistics
  9. ↑ Annual statistics of the Browns 1950
  10. ^ NFL final 1950 statistics
  11. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1951
  12. ^ 1951 NFL final - statistics
  13. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1953
  14. ↑ 1953 NFL final - statistics
  15. ↑ Annual statistics of the Browns 1954
  16. ↑ 1954 NFL final - statistics
  17. ^ Annual statistics of the Browns 1955
  18. ↑ 1955 NFL final - statistics
  19. ^ Tomb of Dante Lavelli in the Find a Grave database
NFL 1940s All-Decade Team

Sammy Baugh  | Sid Luckman  | Bob Waterfield  | Tony Canadeo  | Bill Dudley  | George McAfee  | Charley Trippi  | Steve Van Buren  | Byron White  | Pat Harder  | Marion Motley  | Bill Osmanski  | Jim Benton  | Jack Ferrante  | Ken Kavanaugh  | Dante Lavelli  | Pete Pihos  | Mac Speedie  | Ed Sprinkle  | Al Blozis  | George Connor  | Frank Kilroy  | Baby Ray  | Vic Sears  | Al Wistert  | Bruno Banducci  | Bill Edwards  | Buster Ramsey  | Bill Willis  | Len Younce  | Charley Brock  | Clyde Turner  | Alex Wojciechowicz

personal data
SURNAME Lavelli, Dante
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lavelli, Dante Bert Joseph; Gluefingers (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American football player
DATE OF BIRTH February 23, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH Hudson , Ohio , USA
DATE OF DEATH January 10, 2009
Place of death Cleveland , Ohio