Posted on 07/15/2025 10:13:45 PM PDT by FLNittany
Grier recently celebrated his 93rd birthday on July 14, making him one of the oldest NFL players alive.
He was a third-round pick out of Penn State in 1955, selected by the New York Giants. The massive defensive tackle played seven seasons as a member of the G-Men, where he helped the Giants win the championship in 1956.
During his time in New York, Grier was a three-time All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl twice.
He was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1963, where he became part of the "Fearsome Foursome", along with Hall of Famers Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen plus Lamar Lundy.
He would go on to play four more seasons with the Rams, before retiring after the 1966 season, in large part due to a nasty torn Achilles.
While Grier had a memorable career as a professional football player, it's what he did next that elevated his legend.
He became a television host on his very own show the Rosey Grier Show on KABC-TV that ran from 1968 to 1970, while also becoming a bodyguard for former U.S. attorney general and senator, Robert F. Kennedy.
Grier helped apprehend Sirhan Sirhan, the man who assassinated Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in 1968. At the time of the shooting, Grier was guarding Kennedy's pregnant wife, Ethel, while Sirhan was carrying out his deadly plan.
Grier heard gunfire ahead of him and rushed to Kennedy's side before disarming and bringing down Sirhan.
"So I see George Plimpton has the gun pointed at his face, and I'm concerned that it is going to go off, so I put my hand under the trigger housing and I pulled back the hammer so it couldn't strike," Grier recalled.
"I wrench the gun from Sirhan. I find the pin and I ripped it out and held it. Now I have the gun in my hand, so I shove it in my pocket.
"I grabbed the man's legs and dragged him onto a table. There was a guy angrily twisting the killer's legs and other angry faces coming towards him, as though they were going to tear him to pieces.
"I fought them off. I would not allow more violence."
Grier would go on to receive national recognition from his heroics that night that catapulted him into the spotlight.
He would go on to appear in dozens of TV shows, with over 70 guest appearances, some of which included “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and “I Dream of Jeannie."
He became a series regular on shows such as Daniel Boone, Make Room for Granddaddy, and The White Shadow.
Grier didn't stop there. He pursued singing professionally, working for various labels and recording his own songs.
He was very much involved in politics, following his time on Kennedy's security detail. Grier was a Democrat in his younger years before becoming a Republican in the 1980s.
From there he endorsed President Ronald Reagan for re-election, even speaking at the 1984 Republican National Convention. In 2017, he even seriously considered running for governor of California, before opting not to pursue a candidacy.
Grier has lived many lives in his near century of life. From football player to bodyguard to actor and singer, it's been a full and adventurous life. One that isn't finished.
Correction. He’s older than Grier but played in the AFL only.
I was a Rams fan way back then. I remember Rosey as part of the Rams Fearsome Foursome defensive line along with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Lamar Lundy and later Coy Bacon.
All those LA guys had some acting roles too. Merlin Olsen was also noteworthy as an actor. Even their QB, Roman Gabriel co-starred with John Wayne in The Undefeated.
If I recall correctly, he did needlepoint for relaxation.
That wonderfully absurd movie was one of my firt reactions as well. Thanks for sharing!
My neighbor in NC was Dick Modjelewski. Little Mo. He played with Rosey with the Giants on the DL. I was in college. I would sit on the bank and fish with Mo. he told me great stories. He said Tom Landry was all class. Frank Gifford was an arrogant ass. I miss Mo.
Johnny Lujack lived to 98! Pro football players as a group aren’t long lived.
Star of the best mini-bike chase in movie history (”Man with Two Heads”).
Alex Karras, and Dick Butkus too. All the big mean bastards!😀
My mother, grandmother and sister were on a flight from CA to MI in early ‘69 and Rosey Greer was also a passenger. As the story goes, everyone on the plane knew who he was and what he had done in LA in April ‘68. People were clapping, etc. He was their local hero for the duration.
I didn’t know about his role in subduing Sirhan Sirhan.
Yeah, when an NFL Defensive Tackle gets his big meaty paws on you, you’re done.
Wasnt he the one they called “The Fridge”?..
I don’t think so.
That was William Perry, Chicago Bears.
Rosie was a heckuva player, tho...
How desperate for a paycheck was Ray Milland to appear in that movie? Rosie has far outlasted the life expectancy of NFL linemen.
Brother Dave Hunt, who has gone on to be with the Lord, noted in a video that Rosey Grier commented that he had a difficult time holding on to Sirhan Sirhan (the implication being that Sirhan Sirhan was demon-possessed)
I had never heard that until I saw that Dave Hunt video - 25+ years ago
No but he was one of the fearsome foursome as the article states. That’s the first time 4 front linemen topped 1000lbs. Great guy !!
I really liked the character Rosey Grier played in the TV series ‘Daniel Boone.’ He played the runaway slave, Gabe Cooper.
Lol I remember that- I guess it’s relaxing if one enjoys that, but not my thing lol.
Me either! John Wayne also foiled an assassination attempt wi5h the help of fbi I beleive.
I think I remember him on All in the Family and Archie was very upset when Rosie told him he was gay.
He was a Palestinian jew hater so very likely he was possessed by the evil one.
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