University of Minnesota Athletics
Bronko Nagurski - M Club Hall of Fame
Bronko Nagurski
Football, 1927-29
HOF Class of 1991
An International Falls, MN native and the son of Ukranian immigrants, Bronko Nagurski came to the University of Minnesota in 1927, playing tackle, fullback, defensive end, offensive end, linebacker and even quarterback.
And how he played! He became the only player in college football history named a first-team consensus All-American at two different positions in the same season.
In 1930, he joined the Chicago Bears, leading them to three NFL Championships in eight years. When the six-time All-Pro retired in 1943 with 242 points scored on 4,301 yards rushing, the Bears retired his No. 3.
Dabbling in pro wrestling, Nagurski, won several world heavyweight titles from 1933-41.
A member of the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame, Nagurski was named to the Football Writers Association of America's All-Time team in 1965.
In 1995, college football's Defensive Player of the Year award was renamed the Nagurski Trophy.
Minnesota retired Nagurski’s No. 2 Gopher number in 1979. Sports Illustrated later named him Minnesota's Greatest Athlete of the Century and the Best Football Player of the First Half Century.
International Falls opened its Bronko Nagurski Museum in 1992, and his high school team even renamed themselves the International Falls "Broncos" in his memory.