In the wake of Pacman Jones' pro wrestling debut a number of names have been invoked in discussions about pro athletes gone pro wrestler. Karl Malone. Lawrence Taylor. Even Bill Goldberg. There is one name that has been left out however, and it is the man who was both the greatest pro athlete to wrestle, as well as the greatest wrestler who happened to be a pro athlete. Who is this forgotten man?
Bronko Nagurski.
You see, Bronko didn't just moonlight in pro wrestling like Malone and Taylor. Nagurski wrestled on and off for 25 years, from 1935-1960. He is also the most decorated athlete ever to turn pro wrestler, having been one of the charter members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as being the only college football player ever to be named an All-American at two different positions in the same season. In the pros Nagurski made All Pro at three different positions and helped lead the Bears to two championships.
Where things got interesting with Nagurski was in 1938 when Nagurski retired from football mainly because he couldn't get a raise and could make more money in pro wrestling. Nagurski went on to become one of the greatest pro wrestlers of his era, winning the world championship three different times.
In a nutshell, Bronko's wrestling and football prominence would be equal to a player like Brett Favre today suddenly retiring from the NFL and going on to become one of the most popular pro wrestlers. Actually, now that you mention it...that doesn't sound like a half bad idea...
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