John Siegal

• Chicago Bears (1939-1943)

• 3x NFL Championship (1940, 1941, 1943)
• 3x Pro Bowl selection ( 1940-1942 )

John Walter Siegal ( born May 15, 1918 in Larksville, Pennsylvania, USA) is an American former American football player and dentist. He played as a defensive end and end in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Chicago Bears.

Playing career

John Siegal studied from 1935 to 1938 at Columbia University, where he played as a defensive end and end American Football. The same team also played his future teammates in the NFL Sid Luckman. Siegal was drafted in 1939 by the Chicago Bears in the 17th round to 155th. Together with Luckman he joined the team, coached by George Halas of Chicago. His employer paid him a salary of $ 69 per game.

The Bears had already top players like Joe Stydahar and Bill Osmanski in their ranks, other top players like Ken Kavanaugh and George McAfee were added before the season 1940. This year Siegal won his first league title with the Bears. In the NFL playoff the Washington Redskins, the team of coach Ray Flaherty remained completely without a chance and was beaten with 73:0. Next year, the Bears were able to defend their title. Final opponents were managed by Steve Owen New York Giants. Only in the first half, the Giants showed an equal opponent, but ultimately lost significantly with 37:9. Siegal was in the game utilize a pass from Luckman to a room gain of 26 yards.

In 1942, took over during the season Hunk Anderson, the coach of the Bears. The team remained a top team and was the undefeated regular season in 1942. However, the team lost the NFL playoff against the Redskins with 14:7. Siegal caught two passes in this game. In the 1943 season Siegal only played three times for the Bears. His team was up for the fourth consecutive year in the championship game and won against the eternal rival of Washington, DC with 41:21. Siegal ended after the season, his playing career.

After playing career

During his playing career Siegal studied dentistry at Northwestern University. He then worked as a dentist in the U.S. Navy and later operating a dental practice in Plymouth.

Honors

John Siegal played three times in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season.