Bronko Nagurski
REAL NAME: Bronislau Nagurski
6'2", 235 pounds
BORN: Nov. 3, 1908 in Rainy River, Ontario
DIED: Jan 8, 1990
AKA: Bronco Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski was probably best known for his accomplishments on the
football field, but also rose to the top of the wrestling world.
Born in 1908 in the small border town of Rainy River, Ontario
to parents Michael and Amelia Nagurski, the youngster grew up an athlete in
Minnesota, having to run four miles each day to school and back to the
family farm, where he lived with his parents and three siblings. He loved
wrestling and boxing as a teen, but his mother tried to dissuade him,
frightened that he might get hurt.
But Bronko wouldn't be stopped. He was an All-American at the
University of
Minnesota from 1927 to 1929, and was the only player in U.S. college history
to make all-star at
two positions -- fullback and tackle. In 1930, he was signed by George Halas
to the Chicago Bears, and
helped the Bears to championships in 1932 and 1933.
New York Giants coach Steve Owen once said
"The only way to stop him is to shoot him before he leaves the clubhouse"
and that "Bronko runs his own interference."
Another player, Ernie Nevers, once said "Tackling Bronko was
like trying to stop a freight train running downhill."
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Bronko Nagurski's bust in the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Photo courtesy Andy Bruinewoud.
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The tenacity payed off in the wrestling ring too.
For most of his career he was managed / handled by Tony
Stecher, brother and manager of former NWA World champion Joe Stecher, and
himself a light-weight wrestler. It was Tony Stecher that first got The
Bronk to try wrestling in 1933, and Nagurski debuted in February of that
year, defeated Tag Tagerson in four minutes.
Nagurski hit his peak during the late '30s, early '40s, when
he held the NWA World title twice, beating Lou Thesz June 23, 1939 for his
first win. Nagurski would lose the title to Ray Steel March 7, 1940, and
regain it from Steele a year later on March 11, 1941. Sandor Szabo finally
took the gold from Nagurksi on June 5, 1941.
In another version of the world title, he overcame Dean Detton
in Minneapolis on June 29, 1937.
In a 1997 interview with SLAM! Wrestling, Stu Hart remembered
Nagurski. "He was a pretty big draw. He was pretty tough to bring down in
wrestling. He wasn't that fancy a wrestler either. But he was good enough to
be recognized as world's champion."
Nagurski retired from wrestling in 1960 a physical wreck, and
for the last years of his life, he ran a gas station in International Falls,
Minnesota. He died Jan 8, 1990.
Nagurski married his childhood sweetheart Eileen Kane December
28, 1936 and the couple had a child Christmas Day 1937, who they named after
his father. Junior would go on to play
eight seasons with the Hamilton Ti-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Memories
I knew Bronk well. I wrestled out of Minneapolis. I think I might have tagged with Bronk once or twice. But Bronk was mainly a solo wrestler. At one time he was recognized as world champion out of Minneapolis. He was a hell of a football player. ... He was a Minnesota Gopher All-American in college football. He and Bob Fritz coached the first Grey Cup west in '35, '36 in Regina. [Editor's note: Bob Fritz' made the Grey Cup as head coach in 1935 and 1937. See
CFL Grey Cup History] They went to school together. They were from International Falls, Minnesota. Bronk had a scholarship at the University of Minnesota and Fritz had one, but he went to Concordia College instead. They were maybe two of the best athletes to come out of Minnesota. Nagurski was a great football player. Then he played for the Chicago Bears and was All-Everything there. He was a pretty big draw. He was pretty tough to bring down in wrestling. He wasn't that fancy a wrestler either. But he was good enough to be recognized as world's champion.
Stu Hart from a Nov. 1997 interview with SLAM! Wrestling
Although I was very young to remember, but Bronko was my godfather he was a
very caring generous man with a huge heart he could share with everyone. I
miss him very much!
SMILNJOLLY@aol.com
