Nile Kinnick amazed college football fans with a brilliant combination of running, passing, and kicking that secured his place among the sport’s greatest legends.
Football Bio
July 9, 1918 – Adel, Iowa – Nile Kinnick, the Iowa starting halfback from 1937 to 1939, was born. This great athlete was full of surprises and never ceased to amaze sports fans.
According to FootballFoundation.org, Nile was the Outstanding Male Athlete for 1939, despite the amazing season that baseball legend Joe DiMaggio had that same year. Kinnick was the picture of football brilliance that season, leading Iowa to a 6-1-1 record while running, passing, or kicking for 107 of the Hawkeyes’ 130 points.
Nile led the nation in kickoff return yardage of 377 yards and was second in interceptions with eight. Nile Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939 as a consensus All-American halfback, as he also claimed the rights to the Maxwell and Walter Camp trophies.
Mr. Kinnick was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. The Hawkeyes renamed their stadium after the star back in 1972 to Kinnick Stadium. He suffered an untimely death serving his country during World War II.
Nile Kinnick represents the ultimate ideal of a student-athlete, leaving behind a legacy of gridiron excellence and heroic military service. He forever stands as a symbol of Iowa Hawkeyes’ pride, ensuring future generations remember his extraordinary contributions to the game and his country.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- He won the Heisman Trophy in 1939.
- He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
- He swept both major player of the year awards in 1939, securing the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Trophy.
- He earned the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year honor in 1939, beating out Joe DiMaggio.
- He was selected as a Consensus First-Team All-American in 1939.
- He was named the Big Ten MVP in 1939 and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1937 and 1939.
- He led the nation with 377 kickoff return yards and recorded eight interceptions during his senior season.
- He averaged 57 minutes of playing time per game during the 1939 season, earning the nickname “The Ironman”.
- The University of Iowa renamed its football venue to Kinnick Stadium in 1972 to honor him.
- The Iowa Hawkeyes retired his number 24 jersey.