Bronco Nagurski
Nagurski during his years at University of Minnesota
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| No. 3 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | November 3, 1908 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Rainy River, Ontario | ||||||||
| Date of death: | January 7, 1990 (aged 81) | ||||||||
| Place of death: | International Falls, Minnesota | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 226 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bemidji (MN) | ||||||||
| College: | Minnesota | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Rushing yards: | 2,778 |
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| Average: | 4.4 |
| Touchdowns: | 25 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski (November 3, 1908 – January 7, 1990) was a Canadian-born American football player in the National Football League (NFL), renowned for his strength and size. His parents were from Western Ukraine. Nagurski was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time World Heavyweight Champion.
Nagurski became a standout playing both tackle on defense and fullback on offense at Minnesota from 1927 to 1929, selected a consensus All-American in 1929 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1951. His professional career with the Chicago Bears also made him an inaugural inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, of Ukrainian descent, and his family moved to International Falls, Minnesota, when he was 5 years old. His parents, "Mike" and Michelina Nagurski, were immigrants, from Western Ukraine (Halychyna/Galicia). Young Bronislau grew up working on his parents' farm and sawmill, delivering groceries for his father's grocery store and in his teens laboring at nearby timbering operations, growing into a powerfully muscular 6-footer.
Nagurski was discovered and signed by University of Minnesota head coach Clarence Spears, who drove to International Falls and arriving watched Nagurski out plowing a field. According to legend, Spears asked directions to the nearest town, and Bronko lifted his plow and used it to point in the direction of town. He was signed on the spot to play for the Golden Gophers. Spears admitted he concocted the story on his long drive back to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Legends aside, on his first day of practice Spears decided to test Nagurski in the "Nutcracker" drill, where a defensive player had to take on two blockers and try to tackle a following ball carrier. On the first drill two All-Big Ten linemen and Herb Joesting charged at Bronko, who promptly split the blockers and drove the big fullback into a blocking dummy. Spears sent in three more players, blew his whistle and watched Bronko produce the same explosive results and after a third try with the same conclusion realized what a super player he had recruited.
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