1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Football Cards

1979 Ohio State Greats football playing card back This is the second deck of 1979 "Ohio State Greats" playing cards; the first covers 1916 to 1965. The cards in this deck have a gray frame around the back.

The 1966-1978 deck contains cards for Ohio State players who were named All-Americans during that period, as well as cards for players and coaches who were elected to the "National Football Hall of Fame" (today's College Football Hall of Fame) before 1979. The cards of Hall of Famers are designated by stars on either side of the big "O" on the front--see Ernest Godfrey, for example. Most of the Hall of Famers in this deck appeared as All-Americans in the first deck.

1979 happened to be Earle Bruce's first year as head coach of the Buckeyes. He took over from Woody Hayes, who had coached from 1952 to 1978.

Please do not copy the images of these cards to other sites.

Image Set #Card Title/Players Pro Team Position College Honors Notes Grades available at Nearmint Sports Cards
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Chris Ward 1977 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Chris Ward 1977 Ward is Jim Brown's son-in-law. He played 6 years for the New York Jets and one for the New Orleans Saints.
Chris Ward tackle Ohio State College Hall of Fame 2024
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jan White 1970 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jan White 1970 White played two seasons for the Buffalo Bills.
Jan White tight end Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ernest Godfrey HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ernest Godfrey HOF
Ernest Godfrey coach Ohio State College Hall of Fame 1972
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ray Pryor 1966 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ray Pryor 1966
Ray Pryor center Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ray Griffin 1977 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ray Griffin 1977 Griffin played 7 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1979 he had the NFL's longest interception return, 96 yards
Ray Griffin defensive back Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Deleone 1971 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Deleone 1971 Deleone played 2 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and 11 for the Cleveland Browns.
Tom Deleone center Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Francis Schmidt HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Francis Schmidt HOF Schmidt coached college football, basketball, and baseball for 27 years. He was Ohio State's head coach in football from 1934 to 1940, compiling a record of 39-16-1.
Francis Schmidt coach Nebraska College Hall of Fame 1971
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Dave Foley 1968 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Dave Foley 1968 Foley played 3 seasons for the New York Jets and 6 for the Buffalo Bills. His brother, Tim Foley, played for the Baltimore Colts in 1981.
Dave Foley tackle Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Cousineau 1977 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Cousineau 1977 Cousineau played 3 seasons for the Montreal Alouettes, 4 for the Cleveland Browns, and 2 for the San Francisco 49ers.
Tom Cousineau linebacker Ohio State College Hall of Fame 2016
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Randy Gradishar 1972 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Randy Gradishar 1972
Randy Gradishar linebacker Ohio State Broncos Ring of Fame 1989, College Hall of Fame 1998, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2024
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jim Parker HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jim Parker HOF
Jim Parker guard, tackle Ohio State College Hall of Fame 1974, Outland Trophy 1956, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1973, Ravens Ring of Honor 2002
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Rufus Mayes 1968 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Rufus Mayes 1968
Rufus Mayes tackle Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Aaron Brown 1977 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Aaron Brown 1977 Brown had an 11-year pro career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons.
Aaron Brown linebacker Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 John Hicks 1972 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 John Hicks 1972
John Hicks guard Ohio State College Hall of Fame 2001, Outland Trophy 1973
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Vic Janowicz HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Vic Janowicz HOF
Vic Janowicz halfback Ohio State College Hall of Fame 1976, Heisman Trophy 1950
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Rex Kern 1969 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Rex Kern 1969
Rex Kern defensive back Ohio State College Hall of Fame 2007
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Chris Ward 1976 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Chris Ward 1976
Chris Ward tackle Ohio State College Hall of Fame 2024
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Van DeCree 1973 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Van DeCree 1973 DeCree played for the World Football League's Birmingham Vulcans in 1975.
Van DeCree defensive end Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Les Horvath HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Les Horvath HOF
Les Horvath halfback Ohio State College Hall of Fame 1969, Heisman Trophy 1944
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jim Otis 1969 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Jim Otis 1969
Jim Otis running back Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Skladany 1976 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Tom Skladany 1976
Tom Skladany punter Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Randy Gradishar 1973 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Randy Gradishar 1973
Randy Gradishar linebacker Ohio State Broncos Ring of Fame 1989, College Hall of Fame 1998, Pro Football Hall of Fame 2024
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Bill Willis HOF 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Bill Willis HOF
Bill Willis guard Ohio State Browns Ring of Honor 2010, College Hall of Fame 1971, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1977
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ted Provost 1969 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Ted Provost 1969 Provost played one season for the Minnesota Vikings and one for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ted Provost defensive back Ohio State
1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Bob Brudzinski 1976 1979 Ohio State Greats 1966-1978 Bob Brudzinski 1976
Bob Brudzinski linebacker Ohio State