By Darin 
How do you stop a human locomotive like Bronko Nagurski? In the golden age of “Iron Man” football, Clarke Hinkle was the answer. A 200-pound stick of dynamite from Bucknell, Hinkle possessed a rare combination of breakaway speed and bone-jarring power that redefined the fullback position. Whether he was leading the East in scoring or knocking the league’s biggest bruisers out of the game, the “Lackawanna Express” was the ultimate all-purpose weapon. From his undefeated collegiate run to his record-shattering tenure in Green Bay, Hinkle proved that heart and technique could topple any giant on the gridiron.
Football Bio
April 10, 1909 – Toronto, Ohio – The stud fullback of 1929 to 1931 from Bucknell University, Clarke Hinkle, arrived in this life.
The FootballFoundation.org bio on Clarke states that he might be the best player ever to suit up for Bucknell. Hinkle was blessed with great foot speed and mobility, which gave him excellent range on both offense and defense. He was nicknamed the “Lackawanna Express,” as he first achieved fame and notoriety in 1929, his sophomore season, when he led the East in scoring with 128 points.
He got better the more he played, too, as Clarke led Bucknell to an undefeated season in 1931. Clarke Hinkle’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1971.
Hinkle joined the Green Bay Packers in 1932, and he was the answer to counter the Bears’ Bronko Nagurski, as the two battled head-to-head on many occasions. Bronko was the big, powerful runner of the era, but the stout Hinkle, who was 30 pounds lighter, was determined to hold his own with anyone on an NFL gridiron. Clark’s motto was “get to the Bronk before he gets to me,” a tactic he used to perfection one day in 1934. Trapped on the sidelines by Nagurski, Clarke escaped his tackle by driving directly into and over him. The Bears’ superstar was helped from the field with a broken nose and a fractured rib.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame says that during his 10 years with the Green Bay Packers, Hinkle was named first- or second-team all-league each year! In 1964, Clarke Hinkle was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Conclusion
Clarke Hinkle’s legacy is defined by a fierce competitive spirit that earned the respect of both his teammates and his greatest rivals. By retiring as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher in 1941, he set a standard for durability and production that stood for nearly a decade. His ability to dominate as a runner, punter, kicker, and defensive back made him the quintessential “triple-threat” of the pre-specialization era. Today, his name remains synonymous with Green Bay greatness—honored by a practice field that still bears his name—serving as a permanent reminder of the man who feared no one and conquered everyone.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1964.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1971.
- NFL All-Time Leading Rusher: Retired in 1941 with a then-record 3,860 yards.
- 2× NFL Champion: 1936, 1939 (Green Bay Packers).
- 7× First-Team All-Pro: 1932, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941.
- NFL 1930s All-Decade Team: Recognized as one of the best of the era.
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team: Named one of the greatest players in league history.
- Bucknell Scoring Record: Set a team record with 8 touchdowns in a single game (1929).
- Eastern Scoring Leader: Led the East with 128 points in his sophomore season (1929).
- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1972.
