Don Cockroft entered the NFL with enormous shoes to fill.
A third-round draft pick in 1967, Cockroft was faced with the daunting prospect of following in the footsteps of Lou Groza — who remains one of the league's most legendary players — the following season.
“I had to replace one of the great kickers in the NFL,” Cockroft said.
By the end of his 13-year career in Cleveland, though, Cockroft retired with his own legacy, becoming one of the franchise’s all-time best players.
“Once Lou got a hold of me and started working with me along with (former Browns coach) Blanton Collier, my rookie season, I led the NFL in field goal percentage,” Cockroft said.