Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski (November 3, 1908 â€" January 7, 1990) was
a Canadian-American professional American football player in the
National Football League (NFL), renowned for his strength and size.
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 the
University of 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, which began in 1930 and ended on two occasions in 1937
and 1943, also made him an inaugural inductee into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 1963.Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario,
Canada, in a family of Ukrainian and Polish descent. His family moved
to International Falls, Minnesota, when he was five years old. His
parents, "Mike" and Michelina Nagurski, were immigrants from Galicia
(now Western Ukraine). Nagurski 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 six-footer.
a Canadian-American professional American football player in the
National Football League (NFL), renowned for his strength and size.
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 the
University of 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, which began in 1930 and ended on two occasions in 1937
and 1943, also made him an inaugural inductee into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 1963.Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario,
Canada, in a family of Ukrainian and Polish descent. His family moved
to International Falls, Minnesota, when he was five years old. His
parents, "Mike" and Michelina Nagurski, were immigrants from Galicia
(now Western Ukraine). Nagurski 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 six-footer.
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