Statue of legendary Ohio State running back Archie Griffin unveiled at Rose Bowl Stadium

Archie Griffin, the only player in NCAA history to win two Heisman Trophies and one of the first players to ever start in four consecutive Rose Bowls, was honored with a statue at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.

The 69-year-old’s bronze statue was unveiled on Saturday and is a permanent fixture at the stadium alongside baseball legend Jackie Robinson, UCLA coach great Terry Donahue, broadcast icon Keith Jackson and the groundbreaking 1999 U.S. Women’s World Cup team.

The multiple Big Ten MVP (1973 and 1974) rose to fame during his college years at Ohio State University, where he won the Heisman Trophy twice in a row in 1974 and 1975 and also won four Big Ten titles from 1972 to 1975.

Griffin also set an NCAA rushing record by rushing for 100 yards in 31 consecutive games, and his career total of 5,177 yards was an NCAA record at the time.

In 1976, he was drafted 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals and played seven NFL seasons in his home state of Ohio.

Griffin, who was present at the statue’s unveiling, told the Los Angeles Times: “It means so much, it’s indescribable.”

“I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right people, which allowed me to be part of great teams that were so successful,” Griffin continued.

“I consider having a statue to be an honor for the teams I played for,” he said.

During No. 45’s time as a Buckeye, the team went 1-3 in the Rose Bowl, but Griffin fondly remembered his time in Pasadena, saying, “This place brings back special memories.”

While the newest statue will stand outside of the Rose Bowl stadium, an identical statue was also gifted to OSU by the Rose Bowl.

Dedan Brozino, president of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and chief development officer for the stadium, described the statue as “an immortalization of Archie’s greatness as a human being.”

“Archie’s heart and desire to give back in so many ways after his time as a football player has impacted countless lives,” Brozino said. “This statue will represent a man who shows how we can all give back in life.”

The 2024 college football season marks the 50th anniversary of Griffin’s first Heisman Trophy award.

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