Former Giant Andy Robustelli, 85, dies

Andy Robustelli, the Hall of Fame defensive end who helped the Giants win the 1956 NFL Championship and later served the team as both an assistant coach and general manager, died Tuesday in Stamford, Conn. He was 85.

"He was one of the greatest players in franchise history, and one of the finest, most dignified gentlemen you could ever meet," said Giants president John Mara. "Andy was a man's man in every respect."

Robustelli died of complications from a recent surgery, the Giants said.

Following service in the Navy during World War II, Robustelli played at tiny Arnold College in Connecticut and was drafted in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1951. He played on one Rams championship team. In 1956, Wellington Mara traded for Robustelli, who provided a tremendous lift in the Giants' title drive that season.

"Andy was a great leader," former Giants teammate Frank Gifford said. "When he came to us from the Rams, it turned everything around defensively . . . Tom Landry was such a leader in putting defense into pro football, and Andy was one of the key components of that."

After 1956, the Giants won five more conference championships during Robustelli's tenure, in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963. Robustelli played on a winning team in 13 of his 14 pro seasons and played in eight NFL championship games. He was named All-NFL seven times, two with the Rams and five with the Giants. In 1971 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Robustelli served as an assistant coach for the Giants for two years following his retirement as a player and was the team's director of operations -- a position now called general manager -- from 1974-78.

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"Andy is someone I looked up to fiercely," said George Martin, who was drafted by Robustelli, played for the Giants from 1975-88, and is now the executive director and president of the NFL Alumni Association. "I think he was legendary among all ballplayers, but especially within the illustrious Giants history . . . Andy had such a regal presence about him and people looked upon him with great admiration for his accomplishments. There were many, many times when I tried to emulate Andy, both on and off the field, which is extremely rare."

For many, though, Robustelli will be remembered as a pass-rushing defensive end who, along with Sam Huff, helped forge the Giants' identity as a defensive-based franchise.

"Andy was part of what, to me, was the best defense ever put together," Huff said. "We had Andy's experience, and we had Dick Modzelewski and then we had Roosevelt Grier and along came another defensive end by the name of Jim Katcavage. We had Emlen Tunnell, who is the best safety to ever play in this league, and Jimmy Patton and Erich Barnes . . . We had the best of the best."

Gifford agreed.

"He was far and away above the other defensive ends of his era," Gifford said. "Andy was not all that big, but he was very quick. With Andy and Tom Landry, it was almost scary the anticipation that they had of what was going to be run. He and Tom were very, very close. Whereas Tom was the overall defensive coach, Andy basically ran the defensive line along with the linebackers. He was the leader . . . when Andy talked, everyone listened."

In September, Robustelli was among the 30 former players, coaches and owners inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor at New Meadowlands Stadium. He attended the ceremony.

Robustelli's wife, Jeanne Dora, died April 1. He is survived by nine children and their spouses as well as 29 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Friday, June 3, 2011
Viewing: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Lacerenza Funeral Home
8 Schuyler Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902

Saturday, June 4, 2011
Viewing: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Funeral: 11:30 a.m.
St. Cecelia’s Church
1184 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Stamford Hospital Foundation
1351 Washington Boulevard
Suite 202
Stamford, CT 06902