Otto Graham go to sleep from profootballin 1955 , yet many of his career statistics still rank with those numbers of the top passers of all sentence .
Considering how rule and strategy changes favor more modern genus Passer , Graham ’s Saint Mark are truly remarkable . And yet , if the sign of a great quarterback is not his personal statistics but his ability to win , Otto Graham was the majuscule signal caller pro football has ever seen .
During his 10 years as induction man for the Cleveland Browns , Graham led his team to four uncoiled All - America Football Conference titles , six NFL division crowns , and three NFL championships .
Graham ( born 1921 ) had been a fine single - offstage tailback at Northwestern University , where he also star on thebasketballcourt ( he even play pro basketball game for two season ) . In the 1943 Chicago College All - Star Game , he returned a pass interception 97 yards for a touchdown to varnish a triumph over the pro sensation Redskins .
While at North Carolina Pre - Flight during World War II , Graham was approached byPaul Brown , who was scheduled to train the Cleveland entry in the AAFC , a new league countersink to oppose the NFL in 1946 . Brown wanted to practice Graham as his triiodothyronine - organization quarterback . In their inaugural time of year , the Browns win their first of four unbowed AAFC crown , and Graham proved himself overlord of his unexampled position .
All - conference nine times , Graham was at his dear under atmospheric pressure , report for 10 passing touchdowns and five rushing TDs in six NFL championship games . He was sometimes call " Automatic Otto , " both as a protection to his many smooth performances and as a dodgy dig at Paul Brown ’s system of calling plays from the sideline years before it was fashionable to do so .
But even the harshest critic could n’t reason with his success . Graham ’s pinpoint passing , slick egg - handling , and firm leading keep Cleveland at the top of the standings for 10 unbent years " Otto - matically . " He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 .
