November 3, 1908 – Rainy River, Ontario, Canada – The famous fullback from the University of Minnesota, Bronko Nagurski, was born. Nagurski was a consensus All-American in 1929 for the University of Minnesota Gophers. In fact, according to gophersports.com, Bronko is the only player who has been named to two positions on the same All-America team. In 1929, his senior year at the University of Minnesota, he was voted to the first team at both tackle and fullback. In addition, he was named to some All-America teams as an end. Nagurski was a star at the University of Minnesota from 1927 to 1929, leading the Gophers to an 18-4-2 record during that time. Amazingly, Minnesota’s four losses came by a combined five points. The National Football Foundation could hardly wait to induct Bronko Nagurski into its College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.Â
After school was over, Nagurski signed on with George Halas and his Chicago Bears teams of 1930 through 1938. Bronko was one of the star players for those Bears squads, and he helped the team win NFL Championships in both 1932 & 1933. There was an excellent write-up on one of the infamous 1933 victories, and the play made in part by Nagurski that helped take the Bears to victory can be read about by clicking here. Bronko Nagurski was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the entry class of 1963.
One thought on “Bronko Nagurski”