 | This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2016) |
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| No. 40 | |
| Halfback | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: February 26, 1930 | |
| Place of birth: Elyria, Ohio | |
| Date of death: February 27, 1996 (aged 66) | |
| Place of death: Columbus, Ohio | |
| Career information | |
| College: Ohio State | |
| NFL Draft: 1952 / Round: 7 / Pick: 79 | |
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |
| Career history | |
| * Washington Redskins ( 1954– 1955) | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
* 1950 Heisman Trophy
| |
| Rushing yards | 410 |
| Average | 4.1 |
| Touchdowns | 7 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Vic Janowicz
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| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| * Pittsburgh Pirates (1953–1954) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Victor Felix "Vic" Janowicz (February 26, 1930 – February 27, 1996) was an American football halfback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Ohio State University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1952 NFL Draft. Janowicz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976.
Early life[]
Janowicz was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio as son of Polish immigrants. He went to Holy Cross Elementary School and graduated from Elyria High School. The stretch of Seventh Street which runs along the south side of Elyria High is named Vic Janowicz Drive in his honor, and the school's official address is 311 Vic Janowicz Drive. In addition, a life-size painting of Janowicz hangs in the lobby of the school.
College career[]
Janowicz played college football at Ohio State University. A tailback in the single wing, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1950 as a junior. Woody Hayes, who coached Janowicz's senior year, said of him, "He was not only a great runner, but also passed, was a placekicker and punter, played safety on defense and was an outstanding blocker. Janowicz epitomized the 'triple-threat' football player."[1]
Professional career[]
After college, Janowicz passed up offers to play professional football in order to pursue a baseball career. He reached the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but hit only .214 over two seasons as a bench player. He returned to football late in the 1954 season with the Washington Redskins, and was their starting halfback in 1955. During training camp in 1956, he suffered a serious brain injury in an automobile accident that left him partially paralyzed and ended his athletic career.
Janowicz eventually made a full recovery and became a broadcaster of Buckeye football games. Later he worked as an account executive at a Columbus manufacturing firm and, from 1986, as an administrative assistant to the state auditor.
Janowicz's grave at St. Joseph Cemetery (Lockbourne, Ohio) |
_-_Vic_Janowicz_grave.jpg){kind=link}
He died in Columbus, Ohio, of cancer in 1996.
References[]
External links[]
- Vic Janowicz at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Vic Janowicz at the Heisman Trophy website