FOOTBALL • 1963-65

Jim Grabowski finished his Illinois career as the all-time Big Ten rushing leader with 2,878 yards. A punishing runner, Grabowski was consensus first-team All-America and was third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1965 after finishing second in the nation with 1,258 yards. He was a two-time Academic All-America selection and the 1966 Big Ten Medal of Honor and 1965 Silver Football Award winner recipient. In 1993, Grabowski was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame. Grabowski earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 1963, and first-team honors in both 1964 and 1965. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, honoring his 125-yard MVP effort in Illinois’ 17-7 victory over Washington in the 1964 Rose Bowl. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. Grabowski went on to a six-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, playing in two Super Bowls for Coach Vince Lombardi. He was the first overall pick of the 1966 AFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and the ninth overall pick by the Packers in the NFL Draft. Grabowski currently resides in suburban Chicago.