Bronko Nagurski facts for kids

Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski (born November 3, 1908 – died January 7, 1990) was a famous athlete. He was born in Canada and became a professional American football player. Bronko was known for his amazing strength and large size. He played as a fullback and defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Nagurski was also a very successful professional wrestler, winning the World Heavyweight Championship multiple times.

He became a star playing for the University of Minnesota from 1927 to 1929. He was chosen as an All-American in 1929. Later, he was one of the first people inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. His professional career was with the Chicago Bears. He played for them from 1930 to 1937, and then again in 1943. In 1963, he was also one of the first players to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and College Football

Bronko Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada. His family had roots in Ukraine and Poland. When he was five years old, his family moved to International Falls, Minnesota. Growing up, Bronko worked hard on his parents' farm and sawmill. He also delivered groceries for his father's store. As a teenager, he worked in timber, which helped him become very strong and muscular.

A famous story says that University of Minnesota coach Clarence Spears discovered Nagurski. Spears was looking for another player but saw Bronko plowing a field by himself. The legend says Spears asked for directions, and Bronko lifted his plow to point the way. Spears supposedly signed him on the spot. However, Spears later admitted he made up this exciting story.

On Bronko's first day of practice, Coach Spears tested him in a tough drill. Bronko had to tackle a ball carrier while two blockers tried to stop him. Bronko easily broke through the blockers and tackled the player. Spears tried again with more players, but Bronko still succeeded. This showed Spears what an incredible player he had found.

Nagurski became a star at Minnesota, playing both defense and offense. In 1929, he ran for 737 yards. He was named an All-American at fullback. Some even named him an All-American at tackle, even though he played less at that position. A famous sportswriter, Grantland Rice, said that 11 Bronko Nagurskis would be unbeatable. He said Bronko could play any position and back it up with his strength.

One of his best college games was against Wisconsin in 1928. Even with a back injury, he helped his team win. He recovered a fumble and then ran the ball six times in a row to score a touchdown. Later in the same game, he intercepted a pass to secure the victory. During his three years at Minnesota, his team won 18 games, lost 4, and tied 2. They also won the Big Ten Conference championship in 1927.

Playing Professional Football

Bronko Nagurski joined the Chicago Bears in 1930. He played for them until 1937 and then returned for one more season in 1943. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 235 pounds, he was a powerful player. He helped the Bears win several division titles and two NFL championships. In his career, he ran for 3,947 yards and scored 236 points.

Nagurski was known for his huge size and strength. He was bigger than most linemen of his time. He often dragged several tacklers with him when he ran the ball. In the early days of football, players played both offense and defense. Bronko was also an outstanding defensive lineman. Sometimes, if he was injured, he would even play as an offensive tackle instead of sitting out. He once said that if he played today, he would probably be a linebacker.

There's a famous story about Nagurski scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. He supposedly knocked two linebackers away, ran over a defensive back, and crashed into the goalposts. He then bounced off the goalposts and hit the brick wall of Wrigley Field. When he returned to his team, he reportedly said, "That last guy hit me awfully hard."

At the end of the 1932 season, the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans were tied for the best record. The league decided to hold its first ever playoff game to decide the champion. Because of the cold weather, the game was played indoors at Chicago Stadium. The Bears won 9–0. In that game, Nagurski made a controversial play. He handed the ball off, then pulled up and threw a pass to Red Grange for a touchdown. The other team argued that Nagurski didn't drop back far enough before passing, but the touchdown still counted. This exciting game led the league to create a championship game every year starting in 1933.

In 1943, many football players were fighting in World War II. The Bears needed players, so Nagurski came out of retirement to help. He played as a tackle. Later, he switched back to fullback for a key game against the Chicago Cardinals. The Bears needed to win to reach the 1943 NFL Championship Game. Nagurski scored a touchdown, and the Bears won 35–24. Chicago then won the 1943 championship, beating the Washington Redskins 41–21. Nagurski scored another touchdown in that game.

After the 1943 season, he retired from football again. He briefly coached for the UCLA Bruins before returning to farming.

Professional Wrestling Career

Nagurski posing in a wrestling ring in 1937.

While playing football, Bronko Nagurski also became a professional wrestler. He was very popular and drew large crowds. He started wrestling in 1933. Nagurski became a world champion in wrestling several times. He won his first major world title by defeating Dean Detton in 1937. He then won the National Wrestling Association world title by beating Lou Thesz in 1939. He lost and regained this title in 1940 and 1941. Nagurski continued to wrestle until 1960.

Championships and Awards

Bronko Nagurski won many championships and received many honors in both football and wrestling.

• Football Achievements:
  • 3-time NFL Champion (1932, 1933, 1943)
  • 4-time First-team All-Pro
  • NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader (1932)
  • Member of the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
  • Member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
  • His number 3 jersey is retired by the Chicago Bears.
  • His number 72 jersey is retired by the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
• Wrestling Achievements:
  • Won the World Heavyweight Championship multiple times, including the NWA/NBA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times).
  • Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2009).
  • Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (2011).
  • Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (1996).

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life and Later Years

Bronko Nagurski married his childhood sweetheart, Eileen Kane, in 1936. They had six children: four sons and two daughters. His son, Bronko Nagurski Jr., also played football at the University of Notre Dame. He became an all-star player in the Canadian Football League.

After retiring from wrestling, Nagurski returned to his home in International Falls, Minnesota. He opened a service station there. A local story says he screwed gas caps on so tightly that only he could unscrew them. He retired from the service station in 1978. He lived a quiet life near Rainy Lake on the Canada–U.S. border.

In January 1984, Nagurski was honored by performing the coin toss at Super Bowl XVIII. He passed away on January 7, 1990, in International Falls, Minnesota. He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Honors and Legacy

Bronko Nagurski was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 as one of its first members. At the University of Minnesota, his jersey and awards are displayed at his fraternity house. After he died, the town of International Falls opened the Bronko Nagurski Museum in his honor.

Sports Illustrated magazine named Nagurski one of the four greatest athletes in Minnesota history. In 1993, the Football Writers Association of America created the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. This award is given every year to the best defensive player in college football. Famous winners include Warren Sapp and Charles Woodson. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him a starting defensive tackle for their "NCAA Football All-Century Team."

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him No. 35 on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was the highest-ranked foreign-born player. In 2000, he was voted the second-greatest Minnesotan sportsman of the 20th century. His hometown high school in International Falls is nicknamed the Broncos in his honor. In 2021, he was inducted into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: Bronko Nagurski para niños

• List of Canadian sports personalities
• List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers