View source for Greg Cook

{{Short description|American football player (1946–2012)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Greg Cook
|image= Greg Cook 1969.jpg
|number=12
|position=[[Quarterback]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1946|11|20}}
|birth_place=[[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2012|1|27|1946|11|20}}
|death_place=[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lbs=220
|draftyear=1969
|draftround=1
|draftpick=5
|high_school=[[Chillicothe High School|Chillicothe]]
|college=[[Cincinnati Bearcats football|Cincinnati]]
|pastteams=
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1969|1974}})
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|1975}})*
|highlights=
* [[American Football League Rookies of the Year|AFL Rookie of the Year]] (1969)
*[[List of NFL annual passer rating leaders#American Football League|AFL passer rating leader]] (1969)
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1968 College Football All-America Team|1968]])
|statlabel1=[[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
|statvalue1=15–11
|statlabel2=Passing yards
|statvalue2=1,895
|statlabel3=[[Passer rating]]
|statvalue3=87.6
}}

'''Gregory Lynn Cook''' (November 20, 1946 – January 27, 2012) was an [[American football]] quarterback who played two professional seasons, in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and later the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|University of Cincinnati]] and was selected 5th overall in the [[1969 NFL/AFL draft]]. Once considered a rising star for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]], he had his pro career prematurely ended by recurring shoulder troubles.

In 2007, [[NFL Films]] named Cook as the number one greatest NFL "one-shot wonder" of all time, describing him as one of the biggest "what-ifs" in league history, in the seventh installment of its program ''[[NFL Top 10]]''.

==Early life==
Cook lived most of his life in [[Chillicothe, Ohio]], where he played [[baseball]], [[basketball]] and football at [[Chillicothe High School (Ohio)|Chillicothe High School]].

He played collegiately at [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|Cincinnati]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookGr00.htm|title=Gregory Lynn Cook|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.Com|access-date= October 30, 2012}}</ref> once throwing for 554 yards in a game. He was drafted by the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in the first round of the [[1969 NFL/AFL Draft]] after Bengals coach and founder [[Paul Brown]] saw Cook's performance in the Bearcats' come-from-behind, 23–21 victory against [[Miami University]] in [[Bo Schembechler]]'s last game before he left to coach at the [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]].  Brown had attended the game, but left when the Miami Redskins' lead reached 21–6.  "That quarterback. That's our draft choice," said Brown after seeing film of Cook's rallying performance.

==Professional career==
In 1969, the Bengals released [[John Stofa]], the starting signal caller for much of the team's inaugural season, and named Cook as the starting quarterback. His season started spectacularly, as he led the Bengals to a 3–0 record. However, in game three versus Kansas City, Cook felt a pop in his right (throwing) shoulder after being tackled by linebacker [[Jim Lynch]] and missed the next three games.<ref name=bearcats>{{cite web|url=https://gobearcats.com/news/2022/1/29/general-the-bearcats-bengals-connection.aspx|title=The Bearcats-Bengals Connection|publisher=[[Cincinnati Bearcats|University of Cincinnati Athletics]]|date=January 29, 2022|accessdate=January 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name=1969-bengals>{{cite web|url=https://www.bengals.com/history/years/1969|title=Cincinnati Bengals History {{pipe}} 1969|publisher=[[Cincinnati Bengals]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211212026/https://www.bengals.com/history/years/1969|archive-date=February 11, 2022}}</ref> Possibly due to the limited medical technology at the time, his torn [[rotator cuff]] went undiagnosed.

Despite this, Cook went on to pass for 1,854 yards and led the Bengals to wins over the Chiefs and the [[Oakland Raiders]], two of the three best teams in the AFL.  His 9.411 yards per pass attempt (YPA) and 17.5 yard per completion are rookie records that still stand; Cook's 9.41 YPA remains a Bengals franchise record.<ref name=1969-bengals/> Cook was [[UPI]]'s choice for AFL Rookie of the year.
 
Cook recalled, "I took [[cortisone]] shots and played in pain, but the shoulder hadn't started to deteriorate yet, so I could still function. I still had the strength. I felt obligated to finish the season. I'd gotten off to a good start. I didn't want to relinquish that."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/dr_z/news/2001/10/10/drz_insider/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011107125018/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/dr_z/news/2001/10/10/drz_insider/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 7, 2001 |title=CNNSI.com - Inside Game - Dr. Z - Inside Football - SI's Dr. Z: Landmark meeting launches Walsh's career - Thursday October 11, 2001 10:40 AM |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

The rotator cuff began deteriorating after the season; during surgery, it was revealed that Cook also had a partially detached [[biceps]] muscle.<ref name=bearcats/> After three operations proved futile, he retired. Cook saw action in one game during a 1973 comeback attempt, but he retired permanently after.<ref name=bearcats/> The [[NFL Network]] ''[[NFL Top Ten]]'' series named Cook the #1 One Shot Wonder in NFL history.<ref name="NFL Top Ten">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-top-ten/09000d5d807434bc/Top-Ten-One-Shot-Wonders-Greg-Cook |title=NFL Videos: Top Ten One Shot Wonders: Greg Cook |work=Nfl.com |date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

Former [[New York Jets]] quarterback [[Chad Pennington]], who suffered two tears to his rotator cuff and underwent as many surgeries to repair it,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2172700 |title=Rotator cuff injury threatens Pennington's season - NFL - ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=September 27, 2005 |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> was often compared to Cook because their injuries were so similar. Cook's injury was also similar to one suffered by [[New Orleans Saints]] quarterback [[Drew Brees]], who had surgery on his rotator cuff after the 2005–06 season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holder |first=Larry |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13826581/brees-now-sees-painful-san-diego-exit-as-biggest-blessing |title=Brees now sees painful San Diego exit as biggest blessing - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy |publisher=Cbssports.com |date=August 26, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

Cook finished his career with 1,865 passing yards with an average of 17.4 yards per completion.  He threw 15 touchdowns in his career and 11 interceptions.

==Life after football==
Following retirement, Cook lived in Cincinnati, and worked with [[United Parcel Service]] and with Worksite Information Network as a [[motivational speaker]] for labor [[Trade union|unions]].  He was an art major at the University of Cincinnati, and continued to paint.<ref name="NFL Top Ten" />  Cook had works on display in the [[Ohio Governor's Mansion]]. Cook did some color commentary of University of Cincinnati football broadcasts in the mid-1980s.

==Death==
Cook died on January 27, 2012, shortly after being admitted to [[The Christ Hospital]], a Cincinnati-area hospital, with [[pneumonia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kypost.com/dpp/sports/Bengals-legend-Greg-Cook-dead-at-65 |title=Bengals legend Greg Cook dead at 65 |publisher=Kypost.com |date=January 27, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607045940/http://www.kypost.com/dpp/sports/Bengals-legend-Greg-Cook-dead-at-65 |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Footballstats |pfr=CookGr00}}

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{{Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback navbox}}
{{Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback navbox}}
{{1969 NFL Draft}}
{{Bengals1969DraftPicks}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Greg}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]
[[Category:American Football League Rookies of the Year]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Ohio]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Chillicothe, Ohio]]