William Grinnell


William Gordon "Johnny" Grinnell was an American football player and coach. He played football at Tufts University from 1932 to 1934. He was the head football coach at Northeastern University from 1946 to 1947. Grinnell was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Playing career

Grinnell played end for the Tufts football team from 1932 to 1934. He was a protégé of legendary Tufts player Frederick "Fish" Ellis.
In 1934, Grinnell led Tufts to an 8–0 record. That year, Tufts ceded only one touchdown in eight games and cumulatively outscored its opponents by a margin of 91–9. On account of his high caliber of play, Grinnell was named to the first-ever Small College All-America team.
While at Tufts, Grinnell also played basketball, baseball, and track. He was a three-time member of the All-New England basketball team. Grinnell graduated from Tufts in 1935.

Coaching career

Grinnell coached the Northeastern football team from 1946 to 1947, amassing a 4–8 record.

Death and legacy

Grinnell died on June 26, 1997 due to congestive heart failure.
In August 1997, Grinnell became the first Tufts alumnus inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was one of the first 13 non-Division 1-A players admitted into the Hall of Fame.
On April 21, 2018, Grinnell was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Tufts University Athletics Hall of Fame.