13.4. Did [X] ever played organized football?
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This article is from the Pro-Wrestling FAQ, by macika@emunix.emich.edu (Dominic Macika) with numerous contributions by others.
13.4. Did [X] ever played organized football?
The crossover between wrestling and football is high. Many
current professional wrestlers played football in college, and
perhaps professionally.
First a few notes:
The Manny Fernandez who played for the Miami Dolphins in the
early 70s is NOT the same person as the wrestler Manny
Fernandez. Manny the wrestler was in junior high when Manny the
Dolphin was earning Super Bowl rings.
Bronko Nagurski deserves recognition as the only athlete to be a
member of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and hold a World
Heavyweight Championship in Wrestling. Nagurski was a tackle at
the University of Minnesota, 1927-29 (All-American in 1929) and
played Fullback with the Chicago Bears 1930-37 and 1943. He was
one of the initial inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
and is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. [6'2
216-238] Nagurski held the National Wrestling Association title
twice, from June 23, 1939 to March 7, 1940 (defeating Lou Thesz,
losing to Ray Steele) and from March 11, 1941 to June 5, 1941
(regaining from Ray Steele and losing to Sandor Szabo.)
Below is a brief list of current wrestlers with football
background, clipped from a posting by Gary Will.
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.
Stan Hansen: Linebacker at West Texas State University; 11th
round pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1972 but did not make the
team.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Animal (LOD) Morehead State University Defensive
Tackle Tully Blanchard West Texas State University Quarterback
Ted DiBiase West Texas State University Ric Flair University of
Minnesota Offensive Guard Terry Funk West Texas State University
Offensive Guard
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