Football Legend Nagurski, Hall of Famer, Dies at 81 - Los Angeles Times
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Football Legend Nagurski, Hall of Famer, Dies at 81

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From Associated Press

Bronko Nagurski, who played with a mean streak and a mission and became one of football’s first stars, died of natural causes after a short illness. He was 81.

Nagurski, who died Sunday, was a 235-pound fullback who starred for the Chicago Bears and the University of Minnesota. He was with the Bears from 1930-37 and again in 1943 and was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Many of Nagurski’s contemporaries considered him the greatest football player ever.

“Tackling Bronko was like trying to stop a freight train running downhill,” Ernie Nevers once said.

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“He was the toughest fullback I ever met,” Mel Hein said. “If you hit him low, he’d run over you. When you hit him high, he’d knock you down and run over you.”

Nagurski also was a superb linebacker. In fact, he said that had he played in more modern times, when players chose either offense or defense, he probably would have been a linebacker.

Bronislau Nagurski was born in Rainy River, Ontario, in 1908, but has been known as Bronko since his very early childhood. His son’s given name is Bronko Jr.

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Nagurski played fullback and defensive tackle at Minnesota and was named to the All-America team in 1929 at tackle.

Nagurski is survived by four sons and two daughters, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Nagurski’s wife, Eileen, died in 1987.

Funeral services will be Saturday in International Falls.

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