Bronko Is Champion of Multiple Sports

Our Newspapers.com Football History Headline of the Day comes from the June 24, 1939 edition of the Santa Rosa Republican in Santa Rosa, California when they printed the headline of:

Bronko Nagurski former Grid Star wins from Thesz.

The article below recounts the June 23, 1939, bout in which future Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Bronko Nagurski defeated Lou Thesz in Houston, Texas, to become the National Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Champion. The piece recounts how Nagurski scored the first fall via an airplane spin and subsequent drop kick in the wrestling ring, a move he had learned from his football training. Later, Bronko is reported to have used a reverse slam and a series of "flying mares" to overcome Thesz and pin him, thereby taking the title.

Nagurski was later coerced during World War II to come out of retirement and rejoin the Chicago Bears when there were player shortages on the pro gridiron. He even helped lead the Bears to an NFL title in a triumphant return. Bronko Nagurski is not only in the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames but is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame as well.