Dante Lavelli

Dante Bert Joseph Lavelli (February 23, 1923 – January 20, 2009) was an American professional football player who played end for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1956. Nicknamed "Gluefingers," he starred alongside quarterback Otto Graham, fullback Marion Motley, kicker Lou Groza, and fellow receiver Mac Speedie, forming the core of a Browns team that won seven championships during his 11-season career.

Lavelli was known for his sure hands and his improvisations on the field. He was also renowned for making catches in critical situations, which earned him the additional nickname "Mr. Clutch." Browns head coach Paul Brown once said of him: "Lavelli had one of the strongest pairs of hands I've ever seen; when he went up for a pass with a defender, you could almost always count on him coming back down with the ball."

Lavelli grew up in Hudson, Ohio, where he played football, baseball, and basketball at his local high school. After graduating, he enrolled at Ohio State University, where he played only a handful of games before he was drafted for service in the U.S. Army during World War II. He returned in 1945 after his service.