Presented by COMMERCIAL TIRE
This Day In Sports…February 26, 2014, 10 years ago today:
One of the longest and most productive NFL careers of any Treasure Valley native comes to an end, as Fruitland’s Jordan Gross announces his retirement from the Carolina Panthers. Gross, who began his career at right tackle and became one of the NFL’s premiere left tackles, played all 11 of his pro seasons with the Panthers and was selected to three Pro Bowls while starting a club-record 167 games. Gross was inducted into the Panthers Hall of Honor in 2019.
Gross graduated from Fruitland High in 1999 and received a scholarship offer from Utah, thanks in part to a connection longtime Grizzlies coach Mel Person had there. Gross earned it, steadily improving in his four-year career there. He was a consensus All-American and an Outland Trophy finalist for the Utes as a senior. Gross didn’t allow a single sack in his final two seasons at Utah. He parlayed that into the No. 8 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft and started every game as a rookie without missing an offensive snap—right through the Super Bowl. Gross was first-team All-Pro in 2008, and Carolina rewarded him with a six-year, $56.4 million contract.
Gross is the second-most prolific Idaho-born offensive lineman in history behind Pro Football Hall of Famer and Idaho Vandals legend Jerry Kramer from Sandpoint. A couple of native Idahoan O-linemen came out of Boise State as NFL Draft picks: Matt Hill of Grangeville and Nate Potter from Boise’s Timberline High. Meanwhile, Fruitland has supplied plenty of talent to Gem State universities, including linebacker Joe Martarano, offensive lineman Garrett Larson and tight ends Alec Dhaenens and Tyler Eiguren at Boise State and tight end Scott Auker at Idaho (and I’m sure I’m missing somebody).
Now happily-retired in Fruitland, Gross has been the head coach at Fruitland High the past two seasons while still managing to work in some broadcast duties with the Panthers. He’s also the point person for his family’s 70-acre farm, where he and his wife, Dana, grow produce. They’ve also started a farmers market and have invested in a food truck partnership called Hitchcock Station. Out of necessity, Gross has become an expert on Idaho’s diverse climate. He loves the change of seasons.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
VISIT OUR SCOTT SLANT SPONSOR SITES:
Bacon Boise
Zamzows
The Sandwich Bar
BBSI Boise
Greenwood’s Ski Haus
Commercial Tire
