Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #92: Bronko Nagurski

 

Bronko Nagurski

Teams

Chicago Bears (1930-1937, 1943)

Playoffs

Appearances - 5 (1932,1933,1934,1937,1943)

Conf Champ Games - 5 (1932,1933,1934,1937,1943)

Champ Games - 5 (1932,1933,1934,1937,1943)

Championships - 3 (1932,1933,1943)

Awards and Honors

All-Pro First Team - 4 (1932,1933,1934,1936)

Hall of Fame - 1963

All-Time Ranks

League Leads

Rushing Yards (#2-1932, #3-1933, #4-1934, #7-1936)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-1932, #3-1934, #8-1936)

Yards per Rush (#2-1932, #3-1937, #4-1933, #6-1936, #8-1934)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-1932, #5-1934, #7-1933,1936)

Total Touchdowns (#4-1934, #5-1932)

Scrimmage Yards (#2-1932, #5-1933, #6-1934, #8-1936)

Yards per Touch (#2-1932, #7-1933,1937, #8-1934,1936)

After 3 seasons at the University of Minnesota, playing both defensive tackle and fullback, Bronko Nagurski signed with the Chicago Bears. At the time, the NFL Draft did not yet exist, it wouldn't start until 6 years later.

Individual yardage was not recorded during his first two seasons, so it's difficult to tell how much of an impact he had during those seasons, and the league also did not hold playoffs in those two seasons, instead awarding the championship to the team with the best record.

In his third season with the Bears, he led the league in rushing touchdowns, and Chicago ended up with the best record. The league decided to play a championship game between the two teams with the best records, and Nagurski threw the lone touchdown after taking a handoff as the Bears beat Portsmouth 9-0. 

Chicago advanced to the championship game again the next season, where Nagurski rushed for 64 yards, while also throwing 2 passes, both of which resulted in touchdowns, leading the Bears to a 23-21 victory over the Giants. 

He set his career high with 7 rushing touchdowns the following season, advancing to the championship for the third straight season, but the Bears lost in a rematch with the Giants, despite Nagurski's 68 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

After missing most of the next year due to injury, his role started to decrease, and he ended up retiring after the 1937 season. During the 1943 season, the Bears had lost several players to military service, so Nagurski returned to play offensive and defensive tackle, but switched back to fullback for the final game of the season to help the team reach another championship game.

In that title game, 35-year-old Nagurski rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown as the Bears beat the Redskins 41-21, earning him his third championship. His size 19.5 championship ring is the largest ever recorded for a player regardless of position.

Nagurski played in a different era, when there was less specialization, and most players did a bit of everything. He was in the first class ever elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, and the first class elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but since this list only takes his time as a back into account, he ended up a little lower in the all-time rankings than expected, but he is definitely one of the best ever.