Bronko Nagurski: A timeline tribute
The first paragraph of Bronko Nagurski’s Pro Football Hall of Fame biography describes him as “the symbol of power football during the 1930s. Many eyewitness observers insisted that for sheer brutal line-smashing, no one came close to Nagurski.”
The legendary head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Knute Rockne, once said of Nagurski: “He is the only player I ever saw who could have played every position.”
Due to his punishing, take-no-prisoners running style, Cold, Hard Football Facts named Nagurski to its All-Time 11: The Greatest Football Team Ever Assembled. This unmatched line-up of football talent had Nagurski paired with Jim Brown to form a backfield that would leave defenders battered, bruised and broken from failed tackle attempts.
Bronislav Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario, just over the Canadian border, to Ukrainian immigrants in 1908 and grew up in International Falls, Minn. He was given the nickname Bronko by his first school teacher, who was unable to understand his mother’s pronunciation of his Ukrainian first name.
He won All-American recognition from 1927 to 1929 at the University of Minnesota, where he played both offense and defense. In 1928 against Wisconsin, Nagurski played his most famous college game. While wearing a corset to protect cracked vertebrae, he recovered a fumble, then ran six straight times to score the go-ahead touchdown. Later in the game he sealed the victory with a pass interception. In 1929 he led the nation with 737 rushing yards to earn All-American status at fullback and defensive tackle, becoming the only football player to be honored as an All-American at two positions in a single season.
Legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice selected Nagurski at both positions on his All-American ballot and later wrote that, “Fielding a team of 11 Nagurskis would be something close to murder and massacre. The Bronk could star at any position on the field with 216 pounds of authority to back him up.”
A Chicago Bear
In 1930 Nagurski was signed by the NFL’s Chicago Bears for $5,000 to be the ultimate power complement to the outside running of Red Grange. When he turned pro, Bronko weighed over 200 pounds – more than most NFL linemen at the time. Today he would be called a “downhill runner,” but Nagurski didn’t attempt to be elusive since he had the power to punish any opponent who tried to get in his way.
Steve Owen, head coach of the New York Giants back in the day, when asked about the best way to defend against Nagurski replied: shoot him before he leaves the dressing room.
In the NFL, opponents quickly found out how dangerous it could be to get in Nagurski’s way. In November of his 1930 rookie season in a Bears-Packers match-up, Chicago used Nagurski as the up-back in punting situations. Cal Hubbard of the Packers wanted to personally test Nagurski’s toughness, charging the Ukrainian blocker on a punt. Hubbard was not disappointed when Nagurski flattened the Packer with a right forearm to his jaw.
The Bears finished in third place in 1930 and repeated that finish in 1931. The following year saw Chicago tie the Portsmouth Spartans (later Detroit Lions) for the top spot in the league. To break the tie, the NFL agreed to a first-ever playoff game between the two squads.
A raging blizzard forced the game to be moved inside the Chicago Stadium and was scoreless until a fourth down and goal on the Spartans’ two-yard line with 10 minutes left in the game. Tailback Carl Brumbaugh took the snap and handed off to Nagurski, the Spartans fully expecting still another plunge into the line. Instead Nagurski backed up and threw a touchdown pass to halfback Red Grange, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead.
Portsmouth coach Potsy Clark vehemently protested the play, claiming Nagurski hadn’t been five yards behind the line of scrimmage when he made the pass, the rule at the time. The score stood, and the Bears won the game and the 1932 NFL Championship, 9-0.
Affects rule change
The NFL adopted new rules for the beginning of the 1933 season. The impact of Nagurski’s touchdown pass influenced one of the major changes. Forward passes would be allowed from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage instead of the passer needing to be five yards back. This new rule would have a direct impact on the first official NFL Championship Game in 1933.
The New York Giants vs. Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field in Chicago witnessed Nagurski toss two touchdown passes in his team’s 23-21 victory. In the fourth quarter with two minutes left, Nagurski took a handoff and, before plunging into the line, leapt and threw a pass to Bill Hewitt, who lateraled to Bill Karr, who outran the Giants’ pursuit for the winning score.
In 1934 Nagurski was utilized more as a blocking back than rusher, clearing the way for Beattie Feathers to become the first back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.
Nagurski continued playing at an All-Pro level until it was time to renegotiate his contract for the 1938 campaign. After his salary dipped due to the Depression, Nagurski asked owner George Halas for a raise in 1938 and, when the owner refused, Bronko retired and became a professional wrestler.
The comeback
In 1943, with the United States engaged in World War II, the NFL faced a major shortage of players. Nagurski had been passed over in the military draft because of knee and back ailments. Halas convinced Nagurski to come out of retirement to play tackle for the Bears. He manned the position all season until the final game against the Chicago Cardinals when the Bears needed a win for the Western Division title.
Down 24-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bears broke the huddle to start their next offensive series with Nagurski lined up at his old fullback position. A short plunge into the end zone by Nagurski, plus two later touchdowns propelled the Bears to a 35-24 win and a berth in the NFL Championship Game against Washington.
In what proved to be his final game, Nagurski retired from football again. That offseason he set one more NFL record. When he was measured for his 1943 NFL Championship ring, he required a size 19 ½. That record size stands to this very day.
Nagurski nuggets: Bronko Nagurski is the only player in NFL history to be named All-Pro at three different positions: fullback, offensive tackle and defensive tackle. In 1993 the Football Writers Association created the Bronko Nagurski Trophy to be awarded to the best defensive player in college football. He was inducted as charter member of College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and, in 1963, Nagurski was one of 17 charter inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He gained 2,778 yards rushing in nine NFL seasons.
Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected].