DETROIT — Russ Grimm might have the most excellent Super Bowl weekend possible. Or the former leader of the Washington Redskins’ famed “Hogs” might wind up with two disappointments.
Grimm, now the assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers, will learn today along with longtime Redskins teammate Art Monk whether he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame from among 15 finalists.
Tomorrow night, the Steelers battle the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, as Grimm tries to win a fourth ring to add to those he won with Washington in 1983, 1988 and 1992.
“There are a lot of good players who never even make the original [125-man Hall of Fame] list,” said Grimm, a Pro Bowl guard from 1983 to 1986 and a member of the National Football League’s all-1980s team. “For me, it’s great to be mentioned with those guys. If it happens, I’ll be elated. If it doesn’t, I’m not going to be upset and start throwing things around the room. The Hall is a little bit of a second thought this week.”
That’s because the 46-year-old Grimm’s main task has been preparing his players for their first time on pro sports’ biggest stage.
“It’s really great to see how much the Super Bowl has grown,” Grimm said. “I told the guys to keep things in proper perspective. Enjoy it, but know why you’re here, know what got you here, and make sure we don’t screw it up during the week. I was lucky enough to win a few of these, and it’s the greatest feeling in the world. I also lost one [in 1984], and it was the worst feeling in the world.”
Grimm said that the Redskins’ first Super Bowl title, a 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins, was the sweetest.
“My salary was like $60,000, and I lost half of that [to a players’ strike that canceled half the season], and now they’re saying that we have a chance to win $70,000 for four [playoff] games,” recalled Grimm, then in his second season. “We were behind in that Super Bowl most of the way. Afterwards, you sit in the locker room, and it was more of a shock than anything to realize that you won the Super Bowl.”
It was no shock that the Redskins won those three Super Bowls and went to the playoffs eight times in Grimm’s 11 seasons.
“There were some great players on the Hogs, but Russ was the leader,” said quarterback Mark Rypien, a teammate from the 1986 to 1991 seasons. “He was a great player and a great communicator. He was the head Hog.”
Grimm said he knew that Super Bowl XXVI was likely the final game his battered body could withstand. So he savored the triumph.
“The locker room was emptying out an hour and a half after the game and [he and fellow Hogs Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic and Don Warren] were still sitting there in our [game] pants with our shoulder pads off,” Grimm said. “We were looking at each other saying, ’We did it again.’ ”
Grimm took over as Washington’s tight ends coach the next month. He moved to the line in 1997 before taking a similar post in Pittsburgh in 2000. Grimm was promoted to assistant head coach in 2004.
“Russ sets the tone,” Steelers perennial Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca said. “He’s educated us in reading defenses and adjusting during the game. He’s so football savvy. He’s elevated the level of the whole line. He’s going to make a heck of a head coach.”
Grimm was a finalist for the Chicago vacancy before the 2004 season and for the Detroit opening last month.
“I was excited about the interviews over the last couple of years, but I’ve always believed that things work out for a reason,” Grimm said. “I’m not in a hurry to get things done. I enjoy what I’m doing. I think I’m good at it. If I move to the next level, I do.”
Monk, who didn’t return phone calls for this article, retired with a record 940 catches. A Redskins receiver from 1980 to 1993, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl from 1984 to 1986.
“Art was like a machine,” Grimm said. “The guy had a work ethic that was probably unmatched on our team. Art was always ready to go. He never made mistakes. He was the consummate pro. The numbers are there. It’s hard to make a case for him not to be in the Hall.”
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