Tim Grunhard
Encyclopedia
Timothy Gerard Grunhard (born May 17, 1968) is a former American football
center
in the National Football League
. A second-round draft choice in the 1990 NFL Draft
for the Kansas City Chiefs
, Grunhard went on to play 169 games in all with Kansas City, the fourth most ever by a Chiefs offensive lineman, and was regarded as one of the finest centers in the NFL during the 1990s. Grunhard wore jersey number 61.
. He later moved to South Bend, Indiana
where he later played on some of the most famous teams in all of Notre Dame
's storied history. He started
every game in 1988
when the Irish went undefeated and won the national championship
. That season included victories over 3 otherwise undefeated teams: West Virginia
in the Fiesta Bowl
, USC
in a #1 vs. #2 showdown on the final weekend of the regular season, and the 31-30 win over Miami
at Notre Dame Stadium
that is considered one of the greatest college football games ever played.
. During that time, he started 164 games for the Chiefs, which ranks third in franchise history. Throughout his playing career, Grunhard was always one of the most popular figures with fans and the community. Even after retiring he still holds that respect across the city. Grunhard made his first and only appearance in the Pro Bowl
following the 1999 NFL season
after Denver Broncos
center Tom Nalen
was forced to miss the game due to injury.
football team, a Roman Catholic private high school
in Shawnee Mission, Kansas
where he teaches theology. In his first season as coach in 2006, the varsity team finished with a record of 3-6. The team won its district in Grunhard's second year of coaching, and won State in 2009.
sports radio
from October 2003 till he was let go in December 2007. He first did the show with Doug Franz, but later was hosting it by himself. Originally Tim was on WHB
with Frank Boal and Bill Maas
on a radio show called Crunch Time.
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...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. A second-round draft choice in the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Grunhard went on to play 169 games in all with Kansas City, the fourth most ever by a Chiefs offensive lineman, and was regarded as one of the finest centers in the NFL during the 1990s. Grunhard wore jersey number 61.
Collegiate career
Tim Grunhard grew up in Chicago, Illinois and attended St. Laurence High School in BurbankBurbank, Illinois
Burbank is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 27,902 at the 2000 census. It is located at the southwest edge of the city of Chicago; the Chicago city limit – specifically that of the Ashburn neighborhood – is in common with Burbank's eastern city limit...
. He later moved to South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
where he later played on some of the most famous teams in all of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
's storied history. He started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
every game in 1988
1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
The 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1988 college football season. The Irish, coached by Lou Holtz, ended the season with 12 wins and no losses, winning the national championship...
when the Irish went undefeated and won the national championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
. That season included victories over 3 otherwise undefeated teams: West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
in the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
, USC
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
in a #1 vs. #2 showdown on the final weekend of the regular season, and the 31-30 win over Miami
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
at Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium is the home football stadium for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. The stadium is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States, just north of the city of South Bend....
that is considered one of the greatest college football games ever played.
NFL career
Grunhard was a second round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1990 and was an anchor for the great Chiefs' teams of the 90's, alongside Dave SzottDave Szott
David Andrew Szott is a former professional American football offensive lineman.Szott played 14 years in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets, before retiring from football in February 2004. He remained with the Jets as an...
. During that time, he started 164 games for the Chiefs, which ranks third in franchise history. Throughout his playing career, Grunhard was always one of the most popular figures with fans and the community. Even after retiring he still holds that respect across the city. Grunhard made his first and only appearance in the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
following the 1999 NFL season
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
after 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...
center Tom Nalen
Tom Nalen
Thomas Andrew Nalen is a former American football center who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
was forced to miss the game due to injury.
Coaching career
Grunhard is currently the head coach of the Bishop Miege High SchoolBishop Miege High School
Bishop Miege High School is a fully accredited private Catholic high school, located in Roeland Park, Kansas, USA. It is located directly north of the Shawnee Indian Mission. Bishop Miege is one of two private high schools located in Overland Park, KS. The school colors are royal blue and scarlet...
football team, a Roman Catholic private high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Shawnee Mission, Kansas is a name created by the United States Postal Service to describe an area of Johnson County, Kansas that contains numerous towns. Parts of southern Overland Park are not part of Shawnee Mission as they were annexed from unincorporated Stanley and use zip code 66085...
where he teaches theology. In his first season as coach in 2006, the varsity team finished with a record of 3-6. The team won its district in Grunhard's second year of coaching, and won State in 2009.
Broadcasting
Tim also had a radio show that was on from nine o'clock to eleven o'clock on weekday mornings on KCSPKCSP (AM)
KCSP is a sports/talk radio station located in Kansas City, Missouri. The Entercom-owned station broadcasts on 610 kHz. Beginning March 31, 2011, its programming is simulcast on KMBZ-FM's 98.1-HD2 subchannel....
sports radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
from October 2003 till he was let go in December 2007. He first did the show with Doug Franz, but later was hosting it by himself. Originally Tim was on WHB
WHB
WHB is a commercial sports radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, and is known as the first full-time Top 40 station in the country...
with Frank Boal and Bill Maas
Bill Maas
William Thomas Maas , is a former American Football defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs , and the Green Bay Packers . Maas was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987. In 1984 Maas was named The NFL Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press...
on a radio show called Crunch Time.
External links
- Tim Grunhard at DatabaseFootball.com