Johnny Lujack facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Johnny Lujack

Lujack, circa 1947
No. 32
Position:	Quarterback Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1925-01-04)January 4, 1925 Connellsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:	July 25, 2023(2023-07-25) (aged 98) Naples, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:	Connellsville
College:	Notre Dame (1943, 1946–1947)
NFL Draft:	1946 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Career history
Chicago Bears (1948–1951)
Career highlights and awards
AP Athlete of the Year (1947) First-team All-Pro (1950) 2× Pro Bowl (1950, 1951) NFL passing touchdowns leader (1949) NFL passing yards leader (1949) NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1950) 100 greatest Bears of All-Time 3× National champion (1943, 1946, 1947) Heisman Trophy (1947) 2× Unanimous All-American (1946, 1947)
Career NFL statistics
Pass att/cmp: 404/808 Passing yards: 6,295 TD–INT: 41–54 Rushing yards: 742 Rushing touchdowns: 21 Interceptions: 12 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR
College Football Hall of Fame

John Christopher Lujack Jr. (born January 4, 1925 – died July 25, 2023) was an American football player. He played as a quarterback and defensive back for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). He also played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In 1947, he won the Heisman Trophy, a top award for college football players. When he passed away, he was the oldest living Heisman Trophy winner.

Early Life and College Football Journey

Johnny Lujack was born in 1925 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of six children in a family of Polish descent. His father worked for 30 years on the railroad.

High School Achievements

Lujack went to Connellsville High School. He played football there from 1939 to 1941. He was also the senior class president and the top student (valedictorian). He was a star athlete, earning awards in four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and track. His 1941 high school football team had a great season, almost winning a championship.

Playing for Notre Dame

Many people wanted Lujack to go to the United States Military Academy. But Lujack loved Notre Dame football. He had listened to their games on the radio. He received a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

His college career was paused for two years by World War II. He served as an officer in the United States Navy. He helped hunt German submarines in the English Channel.

When he returned, Lujack led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a perfect 9–0 record in 1947. He completed 61 passes for 777 yards. He also rushed for 139 yards. That year, he won the Heisman Trophy. He was also named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year. Lujack earned awards in four sports at Notre Dame, just like in high school. He helped Notre Dame win three national championships (1943, 1946, and 1947). He was also named an Unanimous All-American twice.

Professional Football Career

Johnny Lujack joined the Chicago Bears in 1948. He played for them for four seasons. In his first year, he played as a defensive back and kicker. He made eight interceptions and kicked 44 extra points.

Radio Show and Record-Breaking Games

In the summer of 1949, Lujack had his own radio show. It was called The Adventures of Johnny Lujack. It was a 30-minute show that aired three times a week.

In the final game of the 1949 season, Lujack had an amazing performance. He threw six touchdown passes. He also set an NFL record with 468 passing yards. This record was later broken by Norm Van Brocklin. Lujack was the last Bears quarterback to throw six touchdown passes until Mitchell Trubisky did it in 2018.

Famous quarterbacks Sid Luckman and George Blanda also played for the Bears during Lujack's time.

In 1950, Lujack set another NFL record. He scored 11 rushing touchdowns as a quarterback. This record was later broken by Steve Grogan in 1976. Lujack also set a Bears record for total points in a season with 109. This record was later broken by Gale Sayers in 1965.

Life After Football

After playing for the Bears, Lujack returned to Notre Dame. He worked as an assistant coach in 1952 and 1953. He wanted to thank Frank Leahy for his scholarship.

Business and Broadcasting

In 1954, Lujack started a car dealership business. It was called Lujack Schierbrock Chevrolet Company in Davenport, Iowa. He later bought out his father-in-law's share. The dealership was sold in 2006.

Lujack also worked as a television color commentator. He helped call New York Giants games for CBS from 1958 to 1961. He also worked on college football telecasts for CBS and ABC.

Honors and Contributions

On June 8, 1978, Lujack was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Lujack gave $50,000 to Connellsville High School. This money helped build a new field house for the football stadium. It was later named the Johnny Lujack Field House. He was also inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Personal Life

Johnny Lujack was married to Patricia Ann "Pat" Schierbrock. They were married in Davenport, Iowa, on June 26, 1948. They had three children: Mary, Jeff, and Carol.

Lujack was related to other athletes. These include NFL player Ben Skowronek and Olympic gymnast Courtney Kupets. NFL quarterback Trent Green also married into the family.

Johnny Lujack passed away in Naples, Florida, on July 25, 2023. He was 98 years old.

Career Statistics

Lujack, circa 1947

College Statistics

Professional Statistics

Lujack on a 1948 Bowman football card

See also

In Spanish: Johnny Lujack para niños