Dan Fortmann
- Chicago Bears (1936-1943)
- 3x Pro Bowl
- 8x All- Pro ( 1936-1943 ) 1 2 team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1965 )
- College Football Hall of Fame (1978 )
- NFL 1930s All- Decade Team
- 3 x NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1943)
- Chicago Bears Ring of Honor
Daniel " Dan / Danny" John Fortmann ( born April 11, 1916 in Pearl River, New York, † 23 May 1995 Los Angeles, California ) was an US- American football player and surgeon. He played seven years in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Chicago Bears.
Playing career
College
Fortmann studied at Colgate University. He plays college football for the Colgate Raiders at the position of a Guards. Already in his first year, 1933, he ran as a starter. By the end of his studies he remained a regular player.
Professional
Many teams in the NFL held Fortmann too small and too light. It was therefore not until 1936 selected by the Chicago Bears in the ninth and final round of 78th place of the NFL Draft. He received a salary of $ 110 per game. In his first year he was employed by his coach George Halas as a starter on the offensive line. He became a dominant player on the team from Chicago. Together with the later a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Joe Stydahar, which ran aground as a tackle, he formed the left side of the offensive line of the Bears. Both contributed significantly to the success of the team at. 1937 had the Washington Redskins gave beaten in the NFL Championship game with 28:21 the Bears. 1940, the Bears were able to return the favor for this failure. They beat the Redskins with 73:0. In 1941 she brought the championship again, where they prevailed against the New York Giants with 37:9. The third championship celebrated Fortmann 1943 Once again, the Redskins were defeated -. Time with 41:21. Fortmann 1943 ended his career. He is still the youngest player ever signed a contract with the Bears.
Honors
Fortmann is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL 1930s All- Decade Team. He was eight times to the All- Pro ( 1 2 team) and elected to three Pro Bowls.
Off the pitch
Fortmann made from 1943 his military service in the U.S. Navy. During his time as a professional player, he studied medicine at the University of Chicago School of Medicine and settled after his military service in Los Angeles as a surgeon down. From 1947 to 1963 he was the team doctor for the Los Angeles Rams. He spent his final years in a nursing home.