Bruiser Kinard

October 23,  1914  – Pelahatchie, Mississippi – Frank “Bruiser” Kinard, a tackle from the University of Mississippi, was born.

Bruiser was voted in as an All-American in both 1936 & 1937, the first player from the state of Mississippi to be selected to the honor.

The National Football Foundation’s bio tells how Frank seldom would leave a game, even when injured, as proven by his 1936 season when he played 708 minutes of the total 720 his team was on the field. After college, Kinard entered the professional ranks of football and became an All-Pro, playing 9 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees football franchises.

The National Football Foundation selected Bruiser Kinard to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Accolades and Honors

Hall of Fame and Major Honors

• Pro Football Hall of Fame (Player): Inducted in 1971.
• College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted as a Charter Member in 1951 (National Football Foundation).
• Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted as a charter member in 1961.

Professional Career (NFL & AAFC)

• Teams: Brooklyn Dodgers/Tigers (NFL, 1938–1944) and New York Yankees (AAFC, 1946–1947).
• First-Team All-Pro (NFL): Selected six times (1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944).
• NFL All-Star: Selected five times (1938–1942).
• First-Team All-AAFC: Selected once (1946).
• Pioneering Feat: Became the first professional football player to earn All-League honors in both the NFL and the AAFC (1946).
• Durability: Was famous for being an “Iron Man” player who rarely left the field, often playing the full 60 minutes. He played a total of 101 professional games over nine seasons.

Collegiate Career (Ole Miss)

• First-Team All-American: Named two times (1936 and 1937). He was the first player from the University of Mississippi (and the state of Mississippi) to receive first-team All-American honors.
• First-Team All-SEC: Named two times (1936 and 1937).
• “Iron Man” Status: In 1936, he played 708 minutes out of a possible 720 for Ole Miss, averaging 55 minutes per game over his college career.
• Post-Career Service: Returned to Ole Miss as an Assistant Coach (1948–1970) and later served as the university’s Athletic Director (1970–1973).