Ken Gorgal facts for kids

Kenneth Robert Gorgal (February 13, 1929 – May 8, 2016) was a talented American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1950s. Ken played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers. He also played college football at Purdue University.

Gorgal grew up in Illinois and was a great athlete in high school. At Purdue, he played as a quarterback and also returned punts. In 1948, he set a school record for most punt return yards in one game. This record lasted for over 50 years!

The Browns picked Gorgal in the 1950 NFL draft. In his first year, he had six interceptions. The Browns won the NFL championship that season. After this, he served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War. He returned to the Browns in 1953. In 1954, he helped the Browns win another NFL championship.

After the 1954 season, the Browns traded Gorgal to the Chicago Bears. He played for the Bears in 1955. However, he had a disagreement with the team's coach and owner, George Halas. Because of this, he was released during the 1956 season. The Green Bay Packers then signed him, and he finished his career there. After football, Gorgal sold insurance in Chicago.

Early Life and College Football Journey

Ken Gorgal grew up in Peru, Illinois. He went to St. Bede Academy, which was a private Catholic high school. His father, Alex Gorgal, also played professional football in the 1920s. Ken was a strong athlete, just like his dad.

At St. Bede, Ken earned awards in track and field, baseball, and football. He played as a quarterback and defensive back on the football team. After high school, Gorgal went to Purdue University in 1946. He continued to play quarterback, defensive back, and returned punts for Purdue's football team.

In 1948, Gorgal set a special record for the Purdue Boilermakers football team. He gained 138 yards returning punts in one game against Pittsburgh. This record was not broken for more than 50 years! Even though Gorgal played well, Purdue had losing records in those years. He also played center fielder for the Purdue baseball team.

Playing in the National Football League

The Cleveland Browns picked Ken Gorgal in the sixth round of the 1950 NFL draft. This was a big year because the Browns were joining the NFL for the first time. They had won many championships in their old league. Gorgal signed a contract and became a starter in his first year.

He was a big player for a safety, standing six feet, two inches tall and weighing about 200 pounds. In 1950, he made six interceptions. The Browns had a great season, winning 10 games and losing only two. They went on to win the NFL championship by beating the Los Angeles Rams.

Serving His Country and Returning to Football

After his first NFL season, Gorgal left the Browns to join the U.S. Army. He served during the Korean War. He worked in the Army's Counterintelligence Corps, doing background checks.

Gorgal returned to the Browns in 1953. He helped make their defense strong again. In 1953, the Browns reached the NFL championship game but lost to the Detroit Lions. Gorgal had four interceptions that season. He was even named a first-team All-Pro player, which means he was one of the best at his position.

In 1954, Cleveland continued to be a top team. They won their division and beat Detroit to win another NFL championship. Gorgal was injured and missed part of this season. He had one interception, which he returned 53 yards for his only career touchdown.

Moving to Other Teams

Even though he was a good player, the Browns traded Gorgal to the Chicago Bears before the 1955 season. The Browns' coach, Paul Brown, said Gorgal was a very friendly person. But Gorgal later felt he was traded because of his injury.

Gorgal had grown up cheering for the Bears. In 1955, he had six interceptions for them. However, he had a disagreement with the Bears' coach and owner, George Halas. Because of this, the Bears released him during the 1956 season. The rival Green Bay Packers then signed him. He played his final five games of the season with them. Gorgal decided to stop playing football after that season.

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Ken Gorgal and his wife, Irene, settled in the Chicago suburbs. He started a new career in insurance. Later, he also worked on the Chicago Board of Trade, which is a big financial market.

Ken and Irene had four children: Diane, Denise, Mark, and Renee. His son Mark also played football at Purdue University in the 1970s. Ken Gorgal passed away on May 8, 2016, at the age of 87.