The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Grbac’s big season led to Pro Bowl
The News-Herald is ranking the 25 best individual football seasons — high school, college or pro — for area players from the last 25 years. PLAYER » Elvis Grbac N-H RANKING » 9 YEAR » 2000 NFL TEAM » Kansas City Chiefs COLLEGE » Michigan HIGH SCHOOL » St. Joseph (now VASJ) WHY HE’S RANKED » Grbac, who grew up in Willoughby Hills, played eight seasons in the NFL. At age 30 in 2000 — his second-to-last season in the league — Grbac was lights out with career highs in passing yards, touchdowns and a spot on the AFC team in the Pro Bowl. From his early days as a QB when he rarely threw it for conservative coach Bill Gutbrod at St. Joseph, Grbac always had the frame (6foot-5) and arm strength. The question was would a coach showcase those skills? At Michigan, Coach Bo Schembechler, and then his successor Gary Moeller gave Grbac the opportunity and the coaches were rewarded with Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowl appearances. In 2000 with Kansas City, Grbac put on the best passing display of his football career. THE SKINNY » Grbac, 47, threw it a career-high 547 times in 2010 under former Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham. He played in 15 games, and threw for 4,169 yards, 28 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. He completed 59.6 percent of his passes. His QB rating that season was 89.9, fourth in the AFC. In a game against the Seahawks that season, he threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. A week later, he torched the Raiders for a team-record 504 yards and two touchdowns. Grbac laid the groundwork for his big 2000 season when he reportedly invited nine of his teammates on a hunting trip the previous offseason and paid for all of their expenses. THEY SAID IT » “Guys have got to finally know who I am. That’s where the relationship will grow between individuals.” — Grbac on the hunting trip with teammates WHERE ARE THEY NOW? » Grbac lives in Chagrin Falls, where he and his wife Lori have three children. He’s also the quarterbacks coach at St. Ignatius. Despite his Pro Bowl season, the Chiefs moved on from Grbac, who then played for the Ravens in 2001 before being released. He reportedly considered signing with the Broncos, but opted for retirement.
In 1997, he led the Chiefs to an AFC West title. At Michigan, Grbac led the nation in passing efficiency two times, and helped the Wolverines to three Rose Bowl games. His most famous moment in Ann Arbor, Mich., was “The Catch,” in 1991. It was a dramatic TD throw and catch from Grbac to eventual Heisman Trophy winner and high school teammate Desmond Howard to defeat Notre Dame.