Bill Groman
Encyclopedia
William Frederick Groman (born July 17, 1936 in Tiffin
, Ohio
) was an American football
player. A wide receiver
, he played college football
at Heidelberg College
, and played professionally in the American Football League
for the Houston Oilers from 1960 through 1962 and was on the first two AFL Championship teams. He played for the Denver Broncos
in 1963, and for the Buffalo Bills
in 1964 and 1965, playing on the Bills' two American Football League Championship
teams. In his six years of professional football, he played on four AFL championship teams, the only man ever to do so.
Groman has more yards receiving in a rookie year than any other player (1473 in 1960, when the season was 14 games long rather than the current 16). He was selected as one of the offensive ends on the first Sporting News AFL All-League Team in 1960
. He also has the most TDs
by receptions in his first 2 years (29: 12 in 1960 and 17 in 1961).
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) was an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. A wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Heidelberg College
Heidelberg College
Heidelberg University is a private liberal arts college located in the city of Tiffin, Ohio in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded in 1850, it was known as Heidelberg College until 1889 and from 1926 to 2009.- History :...
, and played professionally in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
for the Houston Oilers from 1960 through 1962 and was on the first two AFL Championship teams. He played for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1963, and for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1964 and 1965, playing on the Bills' two American Football League Championship
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
teams. In his six years of professional football, he played on four AFL championship teams, the only man ever to do so.
Groman has more yards receiving in a rookie year than any other player (1473 in 1960, when the season was 14 games long rather than the current 16). He was selected as one of the offensive ends on the first Sporting News AFL All-League Team in 1960
1960 American Football League All-League Players
-Sporting News American Football League All-League Team - 1960:The American Football League did not have an All-Star game after its first season in 1960, but an All-League team, selected by vote of the AFL players themselves, was published by the Sporting News...
. He also has the most TDs
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
by receptions in his first 2 years (29: 12 in 1960 and 17 in 1961).