Berwanger was born January,19, 1914 in Dubuque, Iowa. After attending Dubuque HS, he went on to play for Chicago University. Wearing number 99 standing 6ft1inces, 195 lbs John Jacob became a two time All American. In 23 career games, the Maroons "one-man gang" amassed 1,839 total net yards averaging 4.19 yards per touch on 439 attempts. He also threw the football, completing 50 of 146 passes for 921 yards, totaling 22 TD's and kicking 20 extra points compiling 152 total points for his career. He also handled punting and kicking duties, averaging 38 yards per punt on 233 punts. Aside from handling all kicking duties, he also ran kicks back. He averaged 25.7 yards a return on 34 kickoff returns.
The Flying Dutchman went on to become the very first Heisman trophy winner and the only Heisman Trophy winner to be tackled by a future President. Gerald Ford tackled Berwanger in a 1934 contest where Michigan played Chicago. Jay was also the very first NFL draft pick in NFL history, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles but had his draft rights traded to the Chicago Bears. He would not go on to play professionally though because of a contract dispute with George Halas. Berwanger wanted 25,000 dollars for two seasons and Halas felt that it was too much, so he opted out of playing professional football and started a career in business. Jay would go on splitting time in Illinois and Mexico until he passed after a bout with lung cancer on June 27,2002, he was 88 years old.
(courtesy of college football hall of fame)
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