Bruno Niedziela

Bruno Niedziela

No. 48
Position:	Tackle
Personal information
Born:	(1923-04-12)April 12, 1923 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died:	March 22, 1962(1962-03-22) (aged 38) Richmond, Illinois, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Crane (IL)
College:	Iowa
NFL draft:	1945 / round: 19 / pick: 192 (by Chicago Bears)
Career history
Chicago Rockets (1947)
Career AAFC statistics
Games played: 12[a] Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bruno Joseph Niedziela (April 12, 1923 – March 22, 1962) was an American football tackle who played one season in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Chicago Rockets. He played college football for Iowa.

Niedziela was born on April 12, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Crane High School there, and was a champion wrestler. He graduated in c. 1942, and subsequently played college football for University of Iowa. He won a major letter that year, and started five out of ten games.^[1]

He was drafted to serve in World War II during 1943, and was a member of the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945.^[2]

He returned to University of Iowa in 1946, and was starting right tackle. He left the school in 1947, signing a professional football contract with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).^[3] Overall, in the 1947 AAFC season, Niedziela appeared in twelve games, and was a starter in nine of them.^[4] He left the team in 1948.

Niedziela later owned a tavern near Richmond, Illinois. He committed suicide on March 22, 1962, at the age of 38.^[5]

Notes

1. Pro Football Archives lists 10 games played.

References

1. "Bruno Won '42 Award". Iowa City Press-Citizen. October 30, 1946 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Bruno Niedziela Stats". Pro Football Archives.
3. "Bruno Niedziela Signed by Rockets". Iowa City Press-Citizen. July 10, 1947 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Bruno Niedziela Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
5. "Richmond Man Found Dead". The Daily Sentinel. March 23, 1962 – via Newspapers.com.