Leo Nomellini: Lion On the Prowl

June 19, 1924 - Lucca, Tuscany, Italy - Leo Nomellini, the stalwart University of Minnesota tackle who played for the Gophers from 1946 to 1949, was born.

Leo came to America at the age of four with his parents and quickly acclimated to the American way of life and sports. According to an account of the NFF Leo during World War II, he saw active duty with the Marines in the invasion of Saipan and Okinawa. After completing his service, Nomellini enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a 22-year-old freshman in 1946. The superior athlete excelled there as he played both offense and defense at tackle and was consensus All-American in 1948 and 1949. He also wrestled at Minnesota and won the Big 10 heavyweight championship.

He was on the Minnesota track team as a shot putter and anchor man on the 440-yard relay team. He was big, quick, fast, and aggressive, and was given the nickname "the Lion." Leo Nomellini’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 1977.  Leo Nomellini is also a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, being enshrined in 1969.

He played Tackle and Defensive Tackle for the San Francisco 49ers and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl 11 times, and was a 1st Team All-Pro 6 times, and it is thought that he never missed a game during the span of his Pro career.