NFL Veterans

Usually when we say an “NFL veteran,” we’re referring to a player whose career has made it to at least a second NFL season. But today, as we celebrate Veterans Day, my reference to “NFL veterans” refers to those who were members of an NFL team and more importantly, also members of the U.S. Armed Forces team. And there are many. More than you are likely aware.

While every man or woman who serves in our Armed Forces, whether during a time of war or peace, deserves our unconditional gratitude, today I focus on a few of the 1,200-plus NFL war-time veterans. I salute the players, coaches, owners and administrators who either interrupted or postponed their pro football careers to serve their country during time of war.

That 1,200-plus list of names includes 24 NFL men who made the ultimate sacrifice, loss of life, while defending our country. It includes three Congressional of Medal of Honor recipients. And like with so many armed forces veterans, it includes countless examples of personal sacrifice and acts of true heroism.

On the list of “NFL veterans” who served during war there are many familiar names. Names like Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame Coach Tom Landry, who as a 19-year-old enlisted in the Army Air Corp during World War II. Landry flew 30 missions as a co-pilot of a B-17 bomber, and survived a crash in Belgium after a bombing run over Czechoslovakia. And there’s Buffalo Bills founder and Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson, Jr. who served as a skipper on a minesweeper in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters during WWII. Ralph, a decorated veteran, was also the first American to respond to and witness the devastation after the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. 

Chuck “Concrete Charley” Bednarik, the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame Center/Linebacker, was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator and took part in 30 long-range bombing missions over Germany.  For his courageous service he was awarded the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters, the European Theater Operations Medal and four Battle Stars, and the Good Conduct Medal.

Chuck Bednarik (front, left) with crew.

During the Korean War, Eddie LeBaron, who later quarterbacked the Washington Redskins and the Cowboys, and was a long-time NFL and team executive, spent seven months on the front line and was wounded twice. For his heroic efforts in a hard-fought battle at Korea’s Heartbreak Ridge he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Two NFL rookie guards, Bob Kalsu, who played for the 1968 Buffalo Bills and Don Steinbrunner of the 1953 Cleveland Browns, died while serving in Vietnam. Both Kalsu and Steinbrunner were reservists who were called to active duty. Kalsu, after eight months of heavy combat was killed in action while defending Firebase Ripcord, a remote jungle mountaintop. Steinbrunner, who after a year with the Browns, decided on a career in the Air Force, lost his life when his plane was shot down over Kontum, South Vietnam in 1967. There were no survivors.      

Two lesser-known NFL players, but remarkable military veterans Ralph Heywood and Harry Marker have the distinction of being the only players to serve as members of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Heywood, after his initial discharge from the Marines following WWII, embarked on a four-year pro football career with the All-America Football Conference’s Chicago Rockets (1946), the NFL’s Detroit Lions (1947-48), Boston Yanks (1948) and the New York Bulldogs (1949). A reservist, he returned to active duty in 1952 during the Korean War and then later commanded the 26th Marines Regiment in Vietnam.  

Marker, a defensive back out of West Virginia, played just one game as a member of the 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates (now known as the Steelers) before deciding on a military career in the U. S. Army. He also served with distinction during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. 

And the list goes on and on. 

Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman cut short his pro football career to join the Army Rangers. He too gave his life for his country. NFL and Chicago Bears founder, player and coach, George Halas, twice interrupted his football career to serve during WW I and WWII. Lieutenant General Earnest C. Cheatham, a defensive tackle for the Steelers and Baltimore Colts in 1954, was the highest ranking military officer to play professional sports and served with distinction in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. And there’s the remarkable story of survival involving Mario “Motts” Tonelli a Chicago Cardinals fullback who as a WWII prisoner of war survived the infamous Bataan Death March and more. 

I know and understand fully that there are hundreds, no, thousands, of similar stories surrounding our Armed Forces veterans, but today, Veterans Day, I guess I just wanted to reflect on a few of the men that we remember as “Heroes of the Game” and recognize them as true “American Heroes."

Super Bowl Rematch Update

Each week in my blog, I update the results of the Super Bowl rematches taken place throughout the season leading up to Super Bowl 50. Here they are through Week 9.

WEEK	DATE	TEAMS	SB MEETING	SB Rematch Results
1	Sept. 13	Miami at Washington	SB VII - Miami 14, Washington 7; XVII - Washington 27, Miami 17	Miami, 17 at Washington, 10
2	Sept. 21	New York Jets at Indianapolis	SB III - New York Jets 16, Baltimore 7	New York Jets, 20 at Indianapolis, 7
3	Sept. 27	Pittsburgh at St. Louis	SB XIV - Pittsburgh 31, Los Angeles 19	Pittsburgh, 12 at St. Louis Rams, 6
3	Sept. 28	Kansas City at Green Bay	SB I - Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10	Kansas City, 28 at Green Bay, 38
4	Oct. 4	New York Giants at Buffalo	SB XXV - New York Giants 20, Buffalo 19	New York Giants, 24 at Buffalo, 10
6	Oct. 18	Baltimore at San Francisco	SB XLVII - Baltimore 34, San Francisco 31	Baltimore, 20 at San Francisco, 25
6	Oct. 18	Arizona at Pittsburgh	SB XLIII - Pittsburgh 27, Arizona 23	Arizona, 13 at Pittsburgh, 25
6	Oct. 18	Kansas City at Minnesota	SB IV - Kansas City 23, Minnesota 7	Kansas City, 10 at Minnesota, 16
7	Oct. 25	New Orleans at Indianapolis	SB XLIV - New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 17	New Orleans, 27 at Indianapolis, 21
8	Nov. 1	Green Bay at Denver	SB XXXII - Denver 31, Green Bay 24	Green Bay, 10 at Denver, 29
10	Nov. 15	Minnesota at Oakland	SB XI - Oakland 32, Minnesota 14	TBD
10	Nov. 15	New England at New York Giants	SB XLII - New York Giants 17, New England 14; XLVI - New York Giants 21, New England 17	TBD
11	Nov. 22	Dallas at Miami	SB VI - Dallas 24, Miami 3	TBD
12	Nov. 29	Pittsburgh at Seattle	SB XL - Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10	TBD
13	Dec. 6	Philadelphia at New England	SB XXXIX - New England 24, Philadelphia 21	TBD
15	Dec. 20	Buffalo at Washington	SB XXVI - Washington 37, Buffalo 24	TBD
15	Dec. 20	Green Bay at Oakland	SB II - Green Bay 33, Oakland 14	TBD
15	Dec. 20	Cincinnati at San Francisco	SB XVI - San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21; XXIII - San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16	TBD
16	Dec. 27	Dallas at Buffalo	SB XXVII - Dallas 52, Buffalo 17; XXVIII - Dallas 30, Buffalo 13	TBD