Bruno Joseph Niedziela (April 12, 1923 – March 22, 1962) was an American football tackle who played one season in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Chicago Rockets. He played college football for Iowa.
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| No. 48 | |||||
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| Position: | Tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | April 12, 1923 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | March 22, 1962 (aged 38) Richmond, Illinois, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Crane (IL) | ||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1945 / round: 19 / pick: 192 (by Chicago Bears) | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career AAFC statistics | |||||
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Niedziela was born on April 12, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Crane High School there, and was a champion wrestler. He graduated in c. 1942, and subsequently played college football for University of Iowa. He won a major letter that year, and started five out of ten games.[1]
He was drafted to serve in World War II during 1943, and was a member of the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945.[2]
He returned to University of Iowa in 1946, and was starting right tackle. He left the school in 1947, signing a professional football contract with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[3] Overall, in the 1947 AAFC season, Niedziela appeared in twelve games, and was a starter in nine of them.[4] He left the team in 1948.
Niedziela later owned a tavern near Richmond, Illinois. He committed suicide on March 22, 1962, at the age of 38.[5]
Notes
edit- ^ Pro Football Archives lists 10 games played.
References
edit- ^ "Bruno Won '42 Award". Iowa City Press-Citizen. October 30, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bruno Niedziela Stats". Pro Football Archives.
- ^ "Bruno Niedziela Signed by Rockets". Iowa City Press-Citizen. July 10, 1947 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bruno Niedziela Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Richmond Man Found Dead". The Daily Sentinel. March 23, 1962 – via Newspapers.com.
