Everett John (Sonny) Grandelius

Everett John (Sonny) Grandelius

MSU Football Player (1948 – 1950)
New York Giants Player (1953)
University of Colorado Head Football Coach (1959 – 1961)

Sonny Grandelius was born in Muskegon Heights, Michigan and was a standout quarterback and fullback at Muskegon Heights High School leading the football team to back-to-back state championships in 1945 and 1946 while earning first team All-State honors. Grandelius launched a stellar collegiate career at Michigan State becoming the first runner to gain over 1,000 yards in a season, earning the team’s MVP award and All-American honors in his senior season. He was drafted in the third round of the 1951 NFL draft by the New York Giants, where he played one season (1953) before embarking on a coaching career that would first lead him back to Michigan State as an assistant coach then on to the University of Colorado where he was the head coach for three seasons winning the Big Eight Conference title in 1961. He completed his coaching career with the assistant coaching positions with the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. Sonny Grandelius was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.  He passed away on April 25, 2008 at 79 years of age.