Dick Plasman

Herbert Gustave "Dick" Plasman (April 6, 1914 – June 23, 1981) was a professional American football player who played running back for eight seasons for the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cardinals. He is notably the last player in the NFL to play a game without a helmet.[1]

Dick Plasman
No. 14, 16
Position:End/Tackle
Personal information
Born:(1914-04-06)April 6, 1914
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Died:June 23, 1981(1981-06-23) (aged 67)
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami (FL)
College:Vanderbilt
NFL Draft:1937 / Round: 3 / Pick: 28
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:59
Receiving yards:1,083
Average:19.3
Touchdowns:7
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Plasman was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 1937 NFL Draft.[2] On November 6, 1938, he crashed into Wrigley Field's brick wall during a home game against the Green Bay Packers, suffering a severe scalp laceration, three fractured ribs, a broken wrist, and a fractured arm.[3] There were concerns about him ever playing again due to the wrist and arm injuries. However, he recovered and continued to not wear a helmet -- as he did in the 1940 NFL Championship game on December 8, 1940 and Chicago's 1941 NFL Championship game victory on December 21, 1941, two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.[4] Plasman entered the Air Force in July 1942 and thus missed the 1942 and 1943 seasons, but returned for the 1944 season -- when he was forced to wear a helmet due to the new NFL helmet rule.[5]

"Ferocious on his blocks, a great pass rusher and a receiver, too. The guy was terrific, a force out there. He was worthy of the Hall of Fame".[6]

— Paul (Dr. Z) Zimmerman

References
  1. NEA (October 31, 1974). "Last man to play without helmet has hole in his head". Southeast Missourian. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  2. "1937 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  3. "The NFL's Last Helmetless Player Didn't Even Like Hats". May 8, 2023.
  4. "The NFL's Last Helmetless Player Didn't Even Like Hats". May 8, 2023.
  5. "The NFL's Last Helmetless Player Didn't Even Like Hats". May 8, 2023.
  6. "THE BRONK AND THE GAZELLE". Sports Illustrated.



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