The Greatest Athlete To Wear #77 is Red Grange.

This number was the most difficult one yet to decide on who the greatest was-it comes down to two men- Red Grange one of the greatest most exciting players in the early days of professional football and Raymond Bourque one of the greatest defenseman in  NHL history. A great case could be made for both men.

Other notable #77’s-hockey’s Paul Coffee and Adam Oates and NFL linemen Jim Parker, Willie Roaf and Jim Tyrer. Defensive lineman Lyle Alzado and linebacker Karl Mecklenburg. One some of the previous numbers if they had been that number Coffee, Oates and Parker could have been the greatest but not at this number.

Ray Bourque played 23 years in the NHL, all with the Boston Bruins until his final two seasons when he went to the Colorado Avalanche and in his last game-Colorado won the Stanley Cup and Ray Bourque was finally a Stanley Cup Champion. During his career Bourque scored 410 goals, 1169 assists. He was a 18 time All-Star. He was First Team NHL a record 13 times. He is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

It was hard not to pick Ray Bourque as the greatest #77 but I have to go with Red Grange the first superstar in football. Grange was nicknamed “The Galloping Ghost.” He starred at the University of Illinois and then with Papa Bear George Halas with the Chicago Bears. Grange was important to the future of professional football. Halas would say Grange had the biggest impact on football- college or pro than any other player. He helped to popularize the sport. His career was cut short with a knee injury but his impact was large. He helped to make professional football respectable. Bourque had the greater career but I go with Grange because of the influence and impact he had on his sport. A key, pivotal figure.