By Darin 
How does a 17-year-old medical student become the youngest starter in NFL history and a Hall of Fame legend? Dan Fortmann arrived at Colgate with his eyes on a stethoscope, but he left as one of the most feared blockers in the game. Known for a “chopping axe” blocking style and a genius-level football IQ, Fortmann defied those who called him “too small” to anchor the Chicago Bears’ legendary line. Balancing his residency with the rigors of the NFL, the man who would become a world-class surgeon first spent eight years performing surgical-level strikes on opposing defenses.
Football Bio
April 11, 1916 – Pearl River, New York – The hard-hitting guard from Colgate University in the 1933 to 1935 seasons, Danny Fortmann, was born.
Danny’s story begins with his attendance at Colgate in pursuit of a medical education to launch a career as a physician. As a 17-year-old sophomore, Fotmann tried out for the football team, and what good fortune that was for him and the team.
The NFF has a few quotes from the Colgate Coach Andy Ker, who says, ”He was the best player I ever coached. He blocked with the sureness of a chopping axe. With his keen sense of play development, he always seemed to turn up where he could be most effective.” Fortmann was a key reason for the program’s success in both his junior and senior seasons. Kerr went on to state that, “A key block by Danny made possible our first touchdown against Holy Cross in 1934 on an 85-yard punt return, and started us on the way to a spectacular victory,” Kerr proclaimed. “Against undefeated Syracuse that season, Danny turned the tide by leading three stone-wall stands within our five-yard line. Again, his blocking set up the punt return that clinched the victory.”
Daniel Fortmann received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Danny graduated with the medical degree he sought, but the football in him was not yet complete. Most of the NFL felt that at 6’-0” and only 200 pounds, Fortmann was too small a player to take a chance on, but the Chicago Bears took a flyer on him in the 9th and final round of the 1936 NFL Draft, and he signed a contract with George Halas that earned him $110 per game. He proved his worth right away and at the ripe age of 20 years old became the NFL’s youngest starter. In just 8 seasons in the NFL with the Bears, the “undersized” Fortman earned All-Pro honors six times, and in the other two years, he was a second-team All-NFL selection! In 1965, Danny Fortmann was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While playing with the Bears, Danny earned his Doctorate and became one of the country’s leading surgeons after football.
Conclusion
Dan Fortmann’s career is the ultimate rebuttal to the idea that size is the only metric of success in the trenches. By pairing his elite intelligence with a devastating physical technique, he became a perennial All-Pro and a three-time NFL champion. His ability to navigate medical school at the University of Chicago while simultaneously dominating the league remains one of the most remarkable feats of discipline in sports history. Whether he was saving lives in the operating room or clearing paths for George Halas’ offense, Dr. Fortmann operated with a precision that defined greatness.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1965.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1978.
- 3× NFL Champion: 1940, 1941, 1943 (Chicago Bears).
- 6× First-Team All-Pro: (1938–1943).
- 2× Second-Team All-Pro: (1936, 1937).
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team: Named one of the greatest guards in history.
- NFL 1930s All-Decade Team: Recognized as a premier player of his era.
- NFL’s Youngest Starter: Achieved at age 20.
- Colgate University Hall of Honor: Inducted in 1979.
- Career Durability: Missed only one game in eight professional seasons.
