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]

References



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