Al Gross (American football)

Last updated
Al Gross
No. 31, 27
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1961-01-04) January 4, 1961 (age 62)
Stockton, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:191 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school: Franklin (CA)
College: Arizona
NFL Draft: 1983  / Round: 9 / Pick: 246
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:58
Interceptions:11
Touchdowns:2
Fumble recoveries:6
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Alfred Ellis Gross, Jr. (born January 4, 1961) is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at the University of Arizona.

Contents

Early years

Gross attended Franklin High School, where he was a two-time All-conference selection in both football and basketball. He earned All-state honors in basketball as a senior.

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Arizona. He became a starter at strong safety as a sophomore and went on to play in 33 straight games. He was known as a hard-hitting player that excelled in big games. He had 4 career interceptions.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Gross was selected in the ninth round (246th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was also selected by the Arizona Wranglers in the 1983 USFL Territorial Draft. At his request, he was released very early in training camp (August 1). [1]

Cleveland Browns

He was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns 2 days later. His early contributions came playing on special teams and backing up both safety positions.

In 1984, he was named the starter at strong safety and was part of a secondary that earned the nickname "Dawgs", while helping the defensive unit to finish second overall in the NFL. [2] He led the team two years in a row (1984 and 1985) with 5 interceptions.

On September 9, 1986, he was placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury. [3]

In 1987, he started the first four games of the season at free safety, before experiencing complications from a knee injury he suffered the year before. He lost his starting position to Felix Wright and was placed on the inactive list during the last 4 games of the regular season and the playoffs. [4]

On August 4, 1988, he requested to be released from the Browns roster, after feeling he wasn't getting much work in training camp. [5] He finished his career with 261 tackles, 11 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries and 2 touchdowns.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seneca Wallace</span> American football player (born 1980)

Seneca Sinclair Wallace is a former American football quarterback and current assistant coach for John Paul II High School. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa State. He was also a member of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.

Ralph Davis Brown II is a former American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Nebraska, and was a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Horton</span> American football player and coach (born 1960)

Raymond Anthony Horton is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Washington and was drafted in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Roland Bert Woolsey is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis Cardinals. From rural Idaho, he played college football at Boise State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Coleman</span> American football player (born 1988)

Kurt Coleman is a former American football safety. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

Alan Sheffield Ball is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Illinois. He was a contestant on the 35th season of Survivor, where he placed 15th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dre Kirkpatrick</span> American football player (born 1989)

D'Andre Lawan "Dre" Kirkpatrick is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Ward</span> American football player (born 1986)

Terrell Ray "T. J." Ward Jr. is a former American football safety who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Ward also played for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1992)

Tony Lemar Jefferson Jr. is an American football strong safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma and signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Robertson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Craig Robertson is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Robertson played college football at North Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tashaun Gipson</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tashaun Gipson is an American football free safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wyoming, and signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Poyer</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jordan Lynn-Baxter Poyer is an American football strong safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State, where he was named a consensus All-American. Poyer was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2013 NFL Draft and has also played for the Cleveland Browns. While a senior in high school, he was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Su'a Cravens</span> American football player (born 1995)

Su'a Kristopher Cravens is a former American football strong safety. He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamar Taylor</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jamar Andrew Taylor is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Boise State and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaquiski Tartt</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jaquiski Tartt is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Samford and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damarious Randall</span> American football player (born 1992)

Damarious Wayne Randall is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Arizona State and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Joseph</span> American football player (born 1993)

Karl Myrthell Joseph is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia and was drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Vigil</span> American football player (born 1993)

Nick Vigil is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah State, and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Kindred</span> American football player (born 1993)

Derrick Dwayne Kindred Jr. is a former American football safety. He played college football at Texas Christian University, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Harrison</span> American football player (born 1997)

Ronnie Harrison Jr. is an American football strong safety for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

References

  1. "Dolphins' Shull out for season" . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  2. "Al Gross Holding His Ground in Tough Cleveland Secondary" . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  3. "Transactions" . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  4. "Briefs" . Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  5. "Browns waive Gross" . Retrieved April 30, 2017.