Bill Osmanski

Bill Osmanski

Personal information
Born:	(1915-12-29)December 29, 1915 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died:	December 25, 1996(1996-12-25) (aged 80) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:	Providence (RI) Central
College:	Holy Cross
Position:	Fullback
NFL draft:	1939 / round: 1 / pick: 6
Career history
Chicago Bears (1939–1947)
Career highlights and awards
4× NFL Champ (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946) 3× Pro Bowl (1939–1941) All-Pro (1939) NFL rushing yards leader (1939) NFL 1940s All-Decade Team 2× All-American (1937, 1938)
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

William Thomas "Bill" Osmanski (December 29, 1915 – December 25, 1996) was an American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and in 1977 he was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.

College of the Holy Cross

After graduating from Central High School in Providence, Osmanski attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He played fullback for the Crusaders from 1936 to 1938. These three seasons were some of the most successful in Holy Cross' football history with the record of 23–3–3. "Bullet Bill" was named an All-American in 1938. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the College All-Star Game in 1939. His jersey number, 25, was retired by Holy Cross.

Chicago Bears

Osmanski was drafted in the 1st round (6th pick overall) of the 1939 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. The pick paid immediate dividends for the Bears as Osmanski led the National Football League in rushing in 1939 with 699 yards. The Bears also selected Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman in the 1st round, forming the backbone of the Bears' great 1940s teams, which won championships in 1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946.

With a 68-yard run, Osmanski scored the first touchdown of Chicago's 73–0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. He rushed for 109 yards in what remains the most one-sided championship game in the league's history.

Osmanski did not play for the Bears in the 1944 and 1945 seasons due to World War II. He served in the United States Marine Corps during these years, in Guam, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa. Osmanski retired from professional football following the 1947 season.

After retirement

Coaching

After his retirement from the professional game, Osmanski became the head coach at his alma mater, Holy Cross. He coached the Crusaders for two seasons, 1948 and 1949, going 6–14.

Dentistry career

During his playing years with the Bears, Osmanski attended dental school at Northwestern University. Following his coaching years, Osmanski opened a practice in Chicago. He died in Chicago on Christmas Day, 1996.

External links

• Bill Osmanski at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Bill Osmanski at Find a Grave