Chuck Bednarik: The Last of the Sixty-Minute Men
Chuck Bednarik was a legendary player from the University of Pennsylvania who is remembered as the last of the great "Sixty-Minute Men." A decorated World War II veteran, Bednarik played with a toughness and grit that defined an entire era of college football history.
Starring at both center on offense and linebacker on defense, Bednarik rarely left the field. His dominance was so complete that in 1948, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting—an incredible achievement for a lineman.
He was a two-time consensus All-American who represented the end of the "iron man" era, just as free substitution began to take over the game.
His legacy as the toughest player of his time is honored today with the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive player, cementing his iconic status in college football history. 🏈
