The Iron Man of Michigan: Merv Pregulman, Wartime Hero and Two-Way Star

On October 10, 1922, Mervin “Merv” Pregulman was born in Lansing, Michigan. His football career spanned the golden age of “Iron Men” and was interrupted by heroic military service during World War II.

College Career and Accolades

Pregulman was a paragon of versatility for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1941 to 1943, playing under legendary coach Fritz Crisler. He starred on both sides of the ball, shifting seamlessly between center, guard, and tackle on offense, and earning All-American honors as a defensive tackle. His accurate snaps were a critical component of Michigan’s famed single-wing offense. The 1943 season cemented his legacy, earning him First-team All-American honors and helping the Wolverines secure a Big Ten co-championship. Throughout his tenure, he was a three-time Second-team All-Big Ten selection (1941, 1942, 1943).

Road to the Pro Game and War Service

After his stellar college career, Pregulman was the 7th overall pick in the 1944 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. However, like many of his era, his professional debut was delayed by the war. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy, where he served as a gunnery officer in the Pacific Theater. His service included a harrowing experience in April 1945, when he and his crew narrowly survived a kamikaze attack on their ship, the USS Taluga.
Upon returning stateside, Pregulman joined the Packers in 1946. He was soon traded to the Detroit Lions (1947–1948), where he played both center and linebacker, recorded three interceptions, and even contributed as the team’s placekicker, scoring 32 points in 1948. He finished his four-year professional career with the New York Bulldogs in 1949.

Legacy and Later Honors

Pregulman retired from football in 1950 to focus on a highly successful business career in the steel industry. His contributions to the game were formally recognized when the National Football Foundation selected him for the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. Decades later, the University of Michigan honored him with the Gerald R. Ford Award in 2004, the highest honor bestowed upon a former athlete, recognizing his “excellence in scholarship, sport, and society.”