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Ernie Wheeler
Personal information
Born:	January 28, 1915; Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Died:	June 18, 1982 (aged 67); Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College:	North Dakota State
Position:	Defensive back–Tailback
NFL draft:	1939 / round: 5 / pick: 32
Career history
	Pittsburgh Pirates (1939); Chicago Cardinals (1939, 1942);

Ernest Martin Wheeler (January 28, 1915 – June 18, 1982)^[1] was an American football defensive back and tailback who played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1939 and 1942.^[2]

Wheeler played college football at North Dakota State University from 1936 to 1938, and was named to the All-North Central Conference team each year as a running back. In college, he also played basketball and participated in track events.^[3] In the 1939 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose Wheeler with the 32nd overall pick, during round five.^[4] Wheeler played in five games for the Pirates, posting 8 rushing yards in 15 attempts. He also delivered a punt of 75 yards, the second-longest in the NFL that year. Later in 1939, Wheeler played in two games for the Chicago Cardinals, rushing the ball twice for a net loss of eight yards. He did not play again in the NFL until 1942, when he played in three games for the Cardinals.^[2] Wheeler was part of the inaugural class inducted into North Dakota State's Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.^[5]

References

^ The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia Second Edition. New York City: Sterling Publishing. 2007. p. 733. ISBN 978-1-4027-5250-6.
^ ^a ^b "Ernie Wheeler". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
^ "Ernie Wheeler". North Dakota State University. November 5, 2004. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
^ "1939 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ "Bison Athletic Hall of Fame". North Dakota State University. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2017.