Len Grant

Leonard T. "Fish" Grant (January 17, 1906 – August 6, 1938) was an American professional football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. He was a member of the Giants' 1934 NFL Championship team and was twice named by United Press International as a first team All-Pro.

While still active as a professional football player ahead of the 1938 NFL season, Grant was killed in a lightning strike while golfing. His jersey #3 was retired by the Giants at the time of his death, but was returned to use in 1966.

Biography

Len Grant was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in the town of Dedham, located about 10 miles southwest of that city, and attended Dedham High School.

Grant attended New York University, where he played football and boxed, eventually becoming the national intercollegiate boxing champion for the heavyweight division. He played for the NYU varsity football team from 1927 through 1929, captaining the Violets during his senior season.

In 1930, with the NFL roster limit raised from 18 players to 20, Grant managed to win a spot with the New York Football Giants—another big man on a big line that included two players weighing in over 230 pounds, Saul Mielziner and Les Caywood. Grant would become the team's regular left tackle, seeing action in 12 of the 17 games played by the team during the 1930 season, with 8 starts. He would remain ensconced at left tackle for the next four years, moving to the right side of the line in 1935 season.

By 1937 the play of the 31-year old Grant was starting to decline, but head coach Steve Owen appreciated the tackle so much that he made him an assistant coach, rather than release him.

The 1937 Giants finished with a record of 6–3–2, good enough for second place in the NFL's Eastern Division. A playoff game between the Giants and the division-leading Washington Redskins followed—won decisively by the Redskins, 49–14.