A complete list would fill a book, but here are some of the better
known names:
SOME NOTABLE WRESTLERS WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL
Dick "the Bruiser" Afflis: Guard at Purdue University and University
of Nevada, Reno. Offensive tackle with the Green Bay Packers
from 1951 to 1954. [6' 250]
Kay Bell: Tackle at Washington State University, 1934-36. Guard and
tackle for Chicago Bears (1937), AFL Columbus Bullies (1940-41)
and New York Giants (1942). [6'2 210-230]
Greg Boyd: Played for Denver Broncos and Geen Bay Packers.
Bruiser Brody: Played at University of Iowa and West Texas State
University. On reserves for the Washington Redskins in 1968
but never dressed.
Jim Duggan: Linebacker at Southern Methodist University. Signed as a
free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 1977 and spent the
season on injured reserve list. Tried out with CFL Toronto
Argonauts in 1978 or 1979 and may have played.
Bobby Duncum: Linebacker at West Texas State University. Drafted by
the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, and played one season as
offensive tackle. [6'3 250]
Russ Francis: Played for San Francisco 49ers.
Ed Gantner: Defensive lineman with University of Central Florida.
Played in USFL for Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983 and Jacksonville
Bulls in 1984.
Jeff Gaylord: Defensive tackle at University of Missouri; first team
All-American. Drafted by Los Angeles Rams in the 4th round in
1982 but did not make the team. Supposedly palyed for the CFL
Toronto Argonauts in 1982, and in the USFL for the Boston
Breakers (1983), New Orleans (1984) and San Antonio Gunslingers
(1985)
Hardboiled Haggerty: Defensive tackle at University of Denver.
Played for Green Bay Packers, 1950-51. [6'1 255]
Stan Hansen: Linebacker at West Texas State University; 11th round
pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1972 but did not make the team.
Herman Hickman: Guard at University of Tennessee, 1929-31. Played for
Brooklyn Dodgers, 1932-34. Member of College Football Hall of
Fame. [5'10 240-250]
King Curtis Iaukea: Tackle at California State University, 1956-57.
Played for the CFL British Columbia Lions.
Walter Johnson: Fullback at Los Angeles State. Played Defensive
tackle for the Cleveland Browns, 1965-71. [6'3 265-275]
Junkyard Dog: Played college football and attended Green Bay Packers
camp in mid-70s.
Alex Karras: Tackle at University of Iowa, 1956-57. Played for the
Detroit Lions, 1958-62; 1964-70 (suspended in 1963 for
gambling). [6'2 248]
Gene Kiniski: Played for Arizona State University, and for the CFL
Edmonton Eskimos, 1949-50.
William Kuusisto: Guard for University of Minnesota. Played for the
Green Bay Packers fron 1941 to 1946. [6' 225]
Ernie Ladd: Tackle at Grambling State University. Drafted by the AFL
San Diego Chargers in 15th round and played with them from 1961-
65. Also played for AFL Houston Oilers, 1966-67, and AFL
Kansas City Chiefs, 1967-68. [6'9 315-295]
William Lee: Tackle at University of Alabama, All-American in 1934.
Played for Brooklyn Dodgers, 1935-37 and Green Bay Packers,
1937-42, 46. [6'2 231]
Leonard "Butch" Levy: Guard at University of Minnesota. Played for
Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams, 1945-46 and AAFC Los Angeles
Dons, 1947-48. [6' 256]
Eugene "Big Daddy" Lipscombe: Did not play college ball. Signed with
Los Angeles Rams and played there from 1953-55. Also played
for Baltimore Colts (1956-60), and Pittsburgh Steelers (1961-62).
[6'6 284]
Al Lolotai: Guard at Weber Junior College. Played for Washington
Redskins (1945), and AAFC Los Angeles Dons (1946-49). [6' 224]
Lex Luger: Offensive tackle with Pennsylvania State University and
the University of Miami. Played for the CFL Montreal Alouettes
after being suspended from the Miami team. On the Green Bay
Packers' reserves in 1982. Later played for the USFL Memphis
Showboats (1983) and Tampa Bay Bandits.
Don Manoukian: Played for Stanford University and was offensive
guard for the Oakland Raiders in 1960. [5'9 242]
Chief Mayes McClain: Fullback for Haskell Institute (1926) and
University of Iowa (1927-28). Played guard for Portsmouth
Spartans (1930-31) and Staten Island Stapletons (1931). [6'3 200]
Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel: Defensive back at the University of Oklahoma.
Linebacker & offensive guard in AFL for Houston Oilers (1960),
Denver Broncos (1961-63), New York Jets (1964-65), Miami
Dolphins (1966-68). [6' 235]
Angelo Mosca: Defensive end at Notre Dame. Played in the CFL for
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1958-59), Ottawa Rough Riders (1960-61),
Montreal Alouettes (1962), and again with Hamilton from 1963-72.
Member of CFL Hall of Fame.
Blackjack Mulligan: Played at Texas Western University (now
University of Texas at El Paso). Tried out with several NFL
teams from 1962 to 1968 and was on New York Jets reserve list
for one season.
Wayne Munn: Tackle at University of Nebraska, 1918-20. Played for
Kansas City Cowboys in 1925 (league unknown -- not NFL).
Bronco Nagurski: Tackle at University of Minnesota, 1927-29. All-
American in 1929. Fullback with the Chicago Bears 1930-37, 43.
One of the initial inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. [6'2 216-238]
Jim Neidhart: Was on track team at UCLA but did not play football.
Dave Scheid remembers him as a back-up nose guard for the
Oakland Raiders in late 70s who may also have been with the
Houston Oilers; other sources say he never played in the NFL
but did attend a Raiders training camp.
Leo Nomellini: Tackle at University of Minnesota. All-American in 1948
and 1949. First draft pick of San Francisco 49ers and played
there from 1950-63. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
[6'3 259]
John Nord: Played at Montana State University, tried out with the
USFL New Jersey Generals but didn't make the team.
Paul Orndorff: Fullback at University of Tampa. Drafted by Kansas
City Chiefs in 1973 but didn't make the team. Tried out for New
Orleans Saints in 1974 and was again cut. Played for WFL
Jacksonville Sharks in 1975.
Brian Pillman: Middle guard for Miami University. Signed as a free
agent by Cincinnati Bengals and played there in 1984. Tried out
for the CFL Calgary Stampeders in 1986 and may have played
there. [5'10 228]
Ron Pritchard: Linebacker at Arizona State. Played for Houston
Oilers (1969-71) and Cincinnati Bengals (1972-77). [6'1 231]
Ivan Putski: Supposedly played in the CFL and was a training camp cut
of the Detroit Lions.
Butch Reed: Linebacker at Central Missouri State University.
Attended Kansas City Chiefs camp in mid-70s and was cut.
Dusty Rhodes: Played for West Texas State University, and was
briefly with the Continental Football League circa 1965. May
have attended a Boston Patriots camp.
Tito Santana: Tight end at West Texas State University. Signed as
free agent with Kansas City Chiefs in 1974 but was cut. Played
for the CFL British Columbia Lions in 1975 and 1976.
"Jumping" Joe Savoldi: Fullback at Notre Dame. Played for Chicago
Bears in 1930, retired to become wrestler. [5'11 194]
Burt "Scrappy" Shurtleff: Played at Brown University. Center and
guard with Providence Steamrollers (1925-26), Boston Bulldogs
(1929) and Buffalo Bisons (1929). [5'11 190]
Ron Simmons: Nose guard for Florida State University. All-American in
1982. Drafted in the 6th round by the Cleveland Browns in 1983
but did not make the team. Played for the USFL Tampa Bay
Bandits.
Otis Sistrunk: Did not play college football. Defensive tackle and end
for the Oakland Raiders, 1972-78. [6'4 265]
Wilbur Snyder: Tackle with University of Utah. Training camp cut of
the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. Played with CFL Edmonton
Eskimos, 1952-53.
"Dynamite" Gus Sonnenberg: Guard at Dartmouth College (1919-20) and
University of Detroit (1922). Played for Columbus Tigers (1923),
Buffalo All-Americans (1923), Pottsville Maroons (1924), Detroit
Panthers (1925-26) and Providence Steamrollers (1927-28; 30).
Wrestled in 1929. [5'6 196]
John Spellman: Tackle at Brown University. Played for Providence
Steamrollers (1925-31), and Boston Braves (1932). May have
played with Boston Bulldogs in 1929. [5'10 195-210]
Sammy Stein: Did not play college ball. Played in the AFL in 1926. End
for the Staten Island Stapletons (1929-30), New York Giants
(1931) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1932). [6'6 195]
Carel Stith: Defensive tackle at University of Nebraska. Played for
Houston Oilers, 1967-69. [6'5 267]
Woody Strode: End at UCLA. Played for Los Angeles Rams (1946) and for
the CFL Calgary Stampeders (1947). [6'3 205]
Big Van Vader: Played at University of Colorado. Drafted by the Los
Angeles Rams and was on injured reserve for at least one
season but never played.
Fritz Von Erich: Defensive tackle or offensive guard at Southern
Methodist University. May have played for the CFL Edmonton
Eskimos.
Bill Watts: Second-string player with University of Oklahoma. May
have been offensive tackle for the Houston Oilers in 1961.
George Wells: Played for New Mexico State University. Defensive end
over several seasons for CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats and
Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Arthur "Tarzan" White: Guard at University of Alabama. Played for New
York Giants (1937-39), Chicago Cardinals (1940-41) and again for
New York (1945). [5'9 217]
Steve Williams: Offensive guard with University of Oklahoma where he
was All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American in 1981.
Signed with USFL New Jersey Generals in 1983, played little and
was traded to the Denver Gold before the 1984 season, where he
was cut.
COLLEGE ONLY
Mark Allen West Texas State University
Animal (LOD) Morehead State University Defensive Tackle
Steve Austin
Bob Backlund North Dakota State University
Ellis Bashara Oklahoma University Guard
Brian Blair University of Louisville
Tully Blanchard West Texas State University Quarterback
Jim Brunzell University of Minnesota Wide Receiver
Scott Casey West Texas State University Defensive Back
The Destroyer Syracuse University
Mike DiBiase University of Nebraska Guard & Tackle
Ted DiBiase West Texas State University
Manny Fernandez West Texas State University Offensive Lineman
Ric Flair University of Minnesota Offensive Guard
Dory Funk Jr. West Texas State University Guard & Tackle
Terry Funk West Texas State University Offensive Guard
Doug Furnas University of Tennessee
Greg Gagne University of Minnesota Quarterback
University of Wyoming Quarterback
Verne Gagne University of Minnesota End
Bob Geigel University of Iowa Tackle
Curtis Hughes
Kelly Kiniski West Texas State University
Hardy Kruskamp Ohio State University
Len Macaluso Colgate University Fullback
Bill Miller Ohio State University Tackle
Lee Miller West Texas State University
Mike Paidousis University of Tennessee Tackle
Jack Pesek University of Nebraska End & Punter
Scott Putski University of Texas Running Back
Texas Christian University Running Back
Tommy Rogers Southern Mississippi Defensive Back
Mike Rotunda Syracuse University
Babe Sharkey Temple University Tackle
Dick Slater University of Tampa
Tracy Smothers
Dan Spivey University of Georgia Defensive End
Mike Stark Memphis State University
Tatanka
Kevin Von Erich North Texas State University Fullback
Erik Watts University of Louisville Quarterback
Barry Windham West Texas State University Wide Receiver
--Gary Will
Wahoo McDaniel 1960s Jets & Broncos
Stan Hansen ???? Colts
Vader (Leon White) ???? Rams?
Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
Ron Simmons 1980s USFL
Paul Orndorff 1970s WFL
Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
==========================================================================
David Taub g-...@bbs.tsoft.net
Los Altos, CA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Just when you think you know the answers, they change the questions.
Super Bowl pick: 49ers obliterate Steelers!!!!!
>Wahoo McDaniel 1960s Jets & Broncos
>Stan Hansen ???? Colts
>Vader (Leon White) ???? Rams?
>Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
>Ron Simmons 1980s USFL
>Paul Orndorff 1970s WFL
>Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
You can add these to the list:
Jim 'Anvil' Neidhart 1970s Oakland Raiders
Butch Reed (of DOOM) ???? K.C. Chiefs
I'm not sure if Dr. Death Steve Williams played pro football, he definitely
played college ball for Oklahoma.
>Super Bowl pick: 49ers obliterate Steelers!!!!!
Yes!
--
John M. DeMora - Graduate Student Extraordinaire - joh...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
We now return you to your regularly scheduled chaos.
: >Wahoo McDaniel 1960s Jets & Broncos
: >Stan Hansen ???? Colts
: >Vader (Leon White) ???? Rams?
: >Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
: >Ron Simmons 1980s USFL
: >Paul Orndorff 1970s WFL
: >Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
: You can add these to the list:
: Jim 'Anvil' Neidhart 1970s Oakland Raiders
: Butch Reed (of DOOM) ???? K.C. Chiefs
: I'm not sure if Dr. Death Steve Williams played pro football, he definitely
: played college ball for Oklahoma.
Didn't Brian Pillman play for the Bengals?
Mitten Ridge
"The only things in this world I care about are myself, this belt, and my
motorcycle!" - Barry Windham
[snip]
|> > : >Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
|>
|> Add CFL's Calgary Stampeders to this.
|>
Add also the now defunct Montreal Allouettes. I believe he was on a Grey Cup
winning team.
--
***********************************************************
* Standard * *
* Disclaimer * Steve Rossanese * Email: ros...@bnr.ca *
***********************************************************
Maurice Forrester
mjfo...@syr.edu
And CFL's Montreal Alouettes (he was a member of the '79 Grey Cup champs; Marv
Levy was coach and speaks highly of Lex)
>
>> : >Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
>
>Something tells me Duggan didn't play pro either, but I can neither confirm nor
>deny that.
>
It can be confirmed that Duggan played for the Toronto Argonauts for a short
time (*ugh*; and the Argos wonder why they can't get much support :-) )
--
Jason Robar, University of Toronto Computer Engineering
"Great, our lives are in the hands of engineers"
-Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
ro...@ecf.toronto.edu
I remember an interview a few years ago that Duggan did with Mean Gene
Okerlund in the Whiff about his football playing days. He indicated
that he had played for SMU in the SWC (Sure We Cheat!) conference, then
played for the Atlanta Falcons. "Of course, I had to take a pay cut."
8^{)
--
----------------------------------------------------
Bob Schreibmaier K2PH | UUCP: ...!att!mtdcr!bob
AT&T Bell Laboratories | Internet: b...@mtdcr.att.com
Middletown, N.J. 07748 | ICBM: 40o21'N, 74o8'W
Gonna have to ding you on this one. White never took the field for a pro game.
He was cut before he got that far. And yes, he would have been a Ram.
> : >Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
Add CFL's Calgary Stampeders to this.
> : >Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
Something tells me Duggan didn't play pro either, but I can neither confirm nor
deny that.
> : I'm not sure if Dr. Death Steve Williams played pro football, he definitely
> : played college ball for Oklahoma.
Williams did not play pro.
> Didn't Brian Pillman play for the Bengals?
Special teams.
Pete.
>There's plenty of others I can't think off the top of my head but I
>think Vader played for the Broncos and Duggan played for the Falcons,
>like you said..
Leon White played his college football at the University of Colorado at
Boulder; where he still makes his residence (WCW ring announcers simply say
"From the Rocky Mountains"). He never played for the Donkeys. This subject
comes up every so often; I believe someone once posted that he was drafted
by the L.A. Rams and either didn't stick or was there a year or so before he
went out of the league; with injuries I believe. In that same thread a while
back, I thought someone posted that Duggan played for the St. Louis Cardinals.
--
____________________________________________________________________________
|Mark Chelap | "FACE DOWN" Softball Team Mismanager |
|mch...@nyx.cs.du.edu | 1993 Western Wasted Conference Champions |
|_________________________________|_Pizza & Beer--The ONLY two food groups!__|
With all due respect to Gary Will and his list, I believe this is correct.
I have an NFL book from 1972 and it lists Manny Fernandez as a defensive
tackle, age 27, in his 6th season; from West Texas State University. I
also seem to remember that WCW (or was it long enough ago to be Georgia
Championship Wrestling) made mention infrequently that he was a former NFL
player with the Dolphins. He sure looked like the same guy that played with
Miami. I'll dig that book out and doublecheck the above personal info, but
for the number of times I've looked at it over the years, I'm positive that
info is right.
Since wrestler Manny Fernandez would have been about 14 at the
time, this one should be pretty easy to figure out. Don Shula
was a great coach, but even he couldn't win two Super Bowls with
junior high players. :-)
--Gary Will
I have heard that Redskins Coach/legend George Allen wanted to bring Andre
the Giant in as a defensive tackle. Evidently McMahon outbid him though.
I think Douglass Adams was wrong... <Neil Sunley>
44 is the answer <ns...@columbia.edu>
"The Big Deal" (#1 Rams Fan) Tom Daniels td0...@albnyvms.bitnet
Wasn't he on Montreal's team?
Corey Quimby
corey....@undiscovered.com
Don't know about that, but I'm pretty sure he started at the CFL's now
defunct Montreal Alouettes. He started at 18 years old, making him the
youngest something or other.
>
>
>> Didn't Brian Pillman play for the Bengals?
>
Definitely yes. Trainer was Kim Wood of the Bengals.
Andre did get a tryout with the Redskins; I remember seeing a newspaper
photo of Andre at the Redskins camp sometime in the early to mid-70s. But
I suspect it was a publicity stunt and not a serious tryout.
Maurice Forrester
mjfo...@syr.edu
I'm from Miami, had dinner with the Manny Fernandez of the Dolphins, and
have seen the Manny Fernandez wrestler on TV. I firmly believe they are 2
different people.
-
GARY FISCHER TRF...@prodigy.com
Las Vegas, Nevada
Yup. Luger played for the Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football
League.
-"Nobody should, but Evan does" --- Keith Barbaro
-"Whatever you do, don't ask for Adolfo Bonales" ---KB (talking to a
Houston promoter)
-"Look at those two. I wonder if they cut each other's hair..." --KB,
12/17/94, ECW Arena, pointing at a couple
JOEL GERTNER CXN...@prodigy.com
Nope. Zeus is "Tiny" Lister. A movie star who usually gets type-cast as
a prison inmate. He's been in a couple of pretty major flicks. Not sure
of his football playing past, but don't think it involves the NFL, and I
know he's not a current football player.
-"Nobody should, but Evan does."---Keith Barbaro
-"Whatever you do, don't ask for Adolfo Bonales" --KB
-"Look at those two (pointing to a couple sitting in the ECW Arena). I
wonder if they cut each other's hair..." --the great KB
-"If you went to Cornell, you'd think Stephanie Wiand was hot, too."--
Joel G.
JOEL GERTNER CXN...@prodigy.com
Jeremy
David B. Taub (g-...@bbs.tsoft.net) wrote:
: Does anyone have a lsit of aPro wrestlers who played pro football (and
True? False?
Oh, and btw, What ever happened to Kent Hrbek and his dreams of becoming a
pro-wrestler? :) (was he that guy that kept showing up on WWF shows
before SummerSlam saying "I'm on strike!" ? Just curious, cuase I remember
Savage talking to him (interview?) before the '91 World Series...
__________________________I Will Take You Home__________________________
/ Pearl Jam's Better Man | "Performance Underestimates Knowledge." \
I a.k.a. Kelvin Cabrera |------------------------------------------I
\ ka...@columbia.edu | Attack Me If You Dare, I Will Crush You /
DB>Wahoo McDaniel 1960s Jets & Broncos
DB>Stan Hansen ???? Colts
DB>Vader (Leon White) ???? Rams?
DB>Lex Luger (Larry Phohl) 1980s USFL
DB>Ron Simmons 1980s USFL
DB>Paul Orndorff 1970s WFL
DB>Jim Duggan 1978 Falcons?
Brian Pillman - Bengals
Steve Williams - USFL New Jersey Generals.
Ernie "the Big Cat" Ladd - Jets
irwin...@wdn.com
RIME ->448
ş CMPQwk 1.42-17 451 şI multitask... I read in the bathroom!