Bert Aldon Zagers (January 30, 1933 – September 2, 1992) was an American football player who played halfback and defensive back for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).
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| Position: | Halfback, defensive back | ||||||||
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| Born: | January 30, 1933 Fremont, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | September 2, 1992 (aged 59) Traverse City, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Cadillac High School | ||||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1955 / round: 7 / pick: 84 (by the Detroit Lions) | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
editZagers was born in Fremont, Michigan to Evert and Opal Lee Zagers. He attended and played high school football at Cadillac High School in Cadillac, Michigan, where he won a state championship in 1949.[1] He also participated in track and field. Zagers was inducted into the Cadillac High School Hall of Fame in 1951.[2]
College career
editZagers attended and played college football at Michigan State University. In 1952, the Spartans completed a perfect undefeated season and were recognized as the national champions by most major polling organizations including the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll.[3]
Professional career
editZagers was drafted in the seventh round of the 1955 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.[4] He was then traded to the Washington Redskins, along with Bob Trout, for Harry Gilmer. Zagers played his entire career with the Redskins and in 1957, he led the NFL in punt returns.[5]
Personal life
editZagers fought with the United States Army in the Korean War, where he attained the rank of private first class.[1] After retiring from playing, he was the head coach at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, Michigan in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He died on September 2, 1992, in Traverse City, Michigan.
References
edit- ^ a b "Private 1st Class Bert Aldon Zagers, PFC US Army, Korea, Cadillac Michigan , NFL Washington Redskins Michigan U.S. US Army". Faded Footsteps. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ^ "Viking Hall of Fame Inductees". Cadillac News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ^ National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "National Poll Champions" (PDF). 2012 NCAA Division I Football Records. NCAA.org. p. 72. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
- ^ "Bert Zagers". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ^ "Bert Aldon Zagers". Toledo Blade. September 3, 1992. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference