View source for Ernie Nevers

{{Short description|American athlete and coach (1902–1976)}}
{{Other people|Nevers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name           = Ernie Nevers
| image          = Ernie Nevers, 1930s.jpg
| image_size     = 
| caption        = Nevers, {{circa}} 1930s
| birth_name     = Ernest Alonzo Nevers
| birth_date     = {{Birth date|1902|6|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Willow River, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date     = {{Death date and age|1976|5|3|1902|6|11}}
| death_place    = [[Greenbrae, California]], U.S.
| module         = {{Infobox NFL biography
| embed          = yes
| name           = Ernie Nevers
| image          =
| image_size     = 
| alt            = 
| caption        = 
| number         = 4, 11, 44
| position       = [[Fullback (gridiron football)|Fullback]]
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 0
| weight_lb      = 204
| high_school    = Superior Central <br> ([[Superior, Wisconsin]])
| college        = [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] (1923–1925)
| pastteams      = * [[Duluth Eskimos]] ({{NFL Year|1926|1927}})
* [[Chicago Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1929|1931}})
| pastcoaching   = * Duluth Eskimos ({{NFL Year|1927}}) <br> Head coach
* Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1930|1931}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] (1928, 1932–1935) <br> Assistant coach
* [[Lafayette Leopards football|Lafayette]] (1936) <br> Head coach
* [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]] (1937–1938) <br> Backfield & ends coach
* Chicago Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1939}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Chicago Rockets]] ([[1946 AAFC season|1946]]) <br> Backfield coach
| highlights     = * 5× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1926 All-Pro Team|1926]], [[1927 All-Pro Team|1927]], [[1929 All-Pro Team|1929]]–[[1931 All-Pro Team|1931]])
* [[NFL 1920s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Arizona Cardinals#Ring of Honor|Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1925 College Football All-America Team|1925]])
* Third-team All-American ([[1923 College Football All-America Team|1923]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference football teams|All-PCC]] ([[1923 All-Pacific Coast football team|1923]], [[1925 All-Pacific Coast football team|1925]])
* [[Stanford Cardinal football#Retired numbers|Stanford Cardinal No. 1]] retired
; NFL records <!-- Major records only -->
* Most points scored in a game: 40
* Most rushing touchdowns in a single game: 6 (tied){{efn|Tied with [[Alvin Kamara]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://operations.nfl.com/media/3823/2019-nfl-record-and-fact-book.pdf|title=2019 NFL Record and Fact Book|publisher=[[National Football League]]|year=2019|location=New York}}</ref>}}
| statlabel1     = [[Touchdown|Rushing touchdown]]s
| statvalue1     = 38
| statlabel2     = [[American football rules#Scoring|Points scored]]
| statvalue2     = 301
| overall_record = NFL: {{Winning percentage|12|27|2|record=y}} <br> College: {{Winning percentage|1|8|record=y}}
| pfr            = N/NeveEr20
| pfrcoach       = NeveEr0
| HOF            = ernie-nevers
| CollegeHOF     = 1391 
}}
| module2        = {{Infobox baseball biography
| embed          = yes
| name           = Ernie Nevers
| position       = [[Pitcher]]
| bats           = Right
| throws         = Right
| debutleague    = MLB
| debutdate      = April 26
| debutyear      = 1926
| debutteam      = St. Louis Browns
| finalleague    = MLB
| finaldate      = May 4
| finalyear      = 1928
| finalteam      = St. Louis Browns
| statleague     = MLB
| stat1label     = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value     = 6–12
| stat2label     = [[Earned run average|ERA]]
| stat2value     = 4.64
| stat3label     = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value     = 39
| stat4label     = [[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
| stat4value     = 2
| teams          =
* [[St. Louis Browns]] ({{mlby|1926}}–{{mlby|1928}})
| highlights     = 
}}
}}

'''Ernest Alonzo Nevers''' (June 11, 1902 – May 3, 1976), nicknamed "'''Big Dog'''",<ref name="Lieb">{{Cite web |last=Liebendorfer |first=Don E.  |year=1952 |title=Stanford's Greatest Back ... Ernie Nevers |url=http://www.scout.com/college/stanford/story/923464-stanford-s-greatest-back-ernie-nevers |access-date=April 18, 2017 |website=Scout.com |publisher=Daily Polo Alto}}</ref> was an American professional [[American football|football]] and [[baseball]] player and football coach. Widely regarded as one of the best football players in the first half of the 20th century, he played as a [[fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] and was a [[triple-threat man]] known for his talents in running, passing, and kicking. He was inducted with the inaugural classes of inductees into both the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1951 and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1963. He was also named in 1969 to the [[National Football League 1920s All-Decade Team|NFL 1920s All-Decade Team]].

Nevers played four sports (football, [[basketball]], baseball, and [[track and field]]) for [[Stanford University]] from 1923 to 1925 and was a consensus first-team All-American in football in [[1925 College Football All-America Team|1925]]. He played professional football in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Duluth Eskimos]] in 1926 and 1927 and the [[Chicago Cardinals]] from 1929 to 1931. In 1929, one week after defeating the [[1929 Dayton Triangles season|Dayton Triangles]], who were playing in their final game before moving to Brooklyn to embark on their long and tenuous history through the league, he set an NFL record that still stands by scoring 40 points in a single game. In the same game, he set another NFL record by scoring six rushing touchdowns in a single game against the [[1929 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]], a record that remained unequaled until the 2020 season in which [[2020 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] running back [[Alvin Kamara]] also accomplished the feat, scoring six touchdowns against the [[2020 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] on Christmas Day.<ref name=singlegametie /> Nevers also played professional baseball as a [[pitcher]] for the [[St. Louis Browns]] of the [[American League]] from 1926 to 1928 and the [[Mission Reds|Mission Bells]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]] (PCL) in 1928 and 1929.

Nevers also had a long career as a football coach, including stints with the [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford Indians]] (assistant, 1928, 1932–1935), the [[Chicago Cardinals]] (head coach, 1930–1931, 1939), [[Lafayette Leopards football|Lafayette Leopards]] (head coach, 1936), [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa Hawkeyes]] (assistant, 1937–1938), and the [[Chicago Rockets]] (assistant, 1946).

==Early life==
Nevers' parents, George and Mary Ann Nevers, were immigrants to the United States from [[New Brunswick]], Canada. In addition to Ernie, they had five sons (Harry, Frank, John, George, and Arthur) and one daughter (Edith).<ref name=GNobit>{{cite news|title=George Nevers Rites Will Be Held Saturday|newspaper=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|date=April 14, 1933 |page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10329787/george_nevers_rites_will_be_held/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name=MANobit>{{cite news|title=Mrs. M. A. Nevers, Grid Star's Mother, Dies|newspaper=The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California|date=December 8, 1937|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10329687/mrs_m_a_nevers_grid_stars_mother/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Frank Nevers|newspaper=Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, California|date=March 29, 1953|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10334466/frank_nevers_obituary/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>Some family detail is taken from the 1910, 1920, and 1930 U.S. Census entries for George Nevers and family.</ref> By the time Nevers was born, the family had moved from New Brunswick to [[Willow River, Minnesota]], where Nevers was born in 1902.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Birth Index|publisher=Ancestry.com|url=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=dIy6108&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=web-9196&gsln=Nevers&msbdy=1902&msbpn__ftp=pine,%20minnesota,%20usa&msbpn=2369&new=1&rank=1&redir=false&uidh=63h&gss=angs-d&pcat=34&fh=0&h=1170966&recoff=&ml_rpos=1}}</ref><ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Ernie Nevers Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 17, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NeveEr20.htm}}</ref> The family moved again to [[Superior, Wisconsin]], where Nevers grew up and attended Superior Central High School. In 1920, the family moved to a ranch and fruit farm in the Rincon Valley section of [[Santa Rosa, California|Santa Rosa]] in [[Sonoma County, California]].<ref name=GNobit/><ref name=MANobit/> Nevers attended [[Santa Rosa High School (Santa Rosa, California)|Santa Rosa High School]] for the first half of his senior year. He led the Santa Rosa football team by scoring 108 of the team's 170 points. After starting the basketball season for Santa Rosa, he returned to Superior early in 1921 to play for Central. He graduated from Central that spring.<ref name="Bush">{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=Anthony  |year=2019 |title=Ernie Nevers: Duluth Sportsman |url=https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/2155ca_d07a48a956c147b5a3ac282506e58da2.pdf |access-date=January 7, 2021|publisher=St. Louis County (Minnesota) Historical Society}}</ref>

In 1921, Nevers attended [[Santa Rosa Junior College]] and was the star of the school's football team. In a game against Petaluma, he scored four touchdowns and kicked six extra points and a field goal.<ref>{{cite news|title=P.H.S. Defeated by Santa Rosa|newspaper=Petaluma Daily Courier|date=October 19, 1921|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10334836/phs_defeated_by_santa_rosa/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Stanford University==
In 1922, Nevers enrolled at [[Stanford University]]. He played for the freshman football team at fullback and halfback in the fall of 1922.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coach Hunt Has Powerful Frosh Eleven|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=September 27, 1922|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10334948/coach_hunt_has_powerful_frosh_eleven/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===1923–24 academic year===
As a sophomore, Nevers became a star for the [[1923 Stanford football team|1923 Stanford varsity football team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Santa Rosa Has Star Footballer At Stanford|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=September 4, 1923|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10336038/santa_rosa_has_star_footballer_at/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Sensation of Stanford Camp|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=September 27, 1923|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335330/ernie_nevers_sensation_of_stanford_camp/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Best Kicker|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=November 6, 1923|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335645/nevers_best_kicker/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was described as "a sweet punter and a general all-around backfield star" and "the backbone of the Stanford offense."<ref>{{cite news|title=Can This Giant Put the Trojans to Flight? |newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=October 25, 1923|page=26|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335757/can_this_giant_put_the_trojans_to/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

In the final game of the 1923 season, the dedication game for [[California Memorial Stadium]], Nevers gained more yards than the entire [[1923 California Golden Bears football team|California]] team, even though Cal won the Big Game 9–0. After the game, the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote: "The desperate drive of Ernie Nevers . . . will go down in history as one of the greatest individual efforts ever seen on a gridiron."<ref>{{cite news|title=Golden Bears Dedicate New Stadium by Crushing Cardinals, 9 to 0|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 25, 1923|page=I-13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335097/golden_bears_dedicate_new_stadium_by/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sonoma Co. Lad Hero of Stanford|newspaper=Petaluma Daily Morning Courier|date=November 25, 1923|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335249/sonoma_co_lad_hero_of_stanford/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

At the end of the 1923 season, Nevers was selected by the [[United Press]] as the first-team All-Pacific Coast fullback.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oregon Captain Selected As Quarterback on Coast All-Star Football Squad|author=M. D. Tracy|newspaper=The Eugene Daily Guard|date=December 1, 1923|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/97044074/}}</ref> 
He was also selected by [[Walter Camp]] as the third-team fullback on the [[1923 College Football All-America Team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Camp Recognized These Stars|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=December 18, 1923|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10335519/camp_recognized_these_stars/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

After the 1923 football season was over, Nevers demonstrated his overall athletic ability by also starring for Stanford's basketball, baseball and track teams.<ref name=NSJ/><ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Thrives On Hard Tasks In All Sports|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=April 30, 1924|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10336351/nevers_thrives_on_hard_tasks_in_all/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was rated as the Pacific coast's best player in both football and basketball, the best college pitcher, one of the leading track performers, and "a crack swimmer" as well. In April 1924, Stanford's assistant director of physical education, Harry Maloney, called Nevers "a freak genius" who also excelled in the classroom.<ref name=NSJ>{{cite news|title=Stanford Has Most Versatile Athlete: Ernie Nevers "Miracle Man"; Performs on Track, Grid, Diamond and Court|newspaper=Nevada State Journal|date=April 13, 1924|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10336271/stanford_has_most_valuable_athlete/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===1924–25 academic year===
As a junior, Nevers was sidelined for most of the football season after suffering two broken ankles.  Under head coach [[Pop Warner]], the [[1925 Stanford football team]] won the [[Pacific Coast Conference]] championship with a 7–0–1 record in the regular season before losing to [[1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] and the famous [[Four Horsemen (American football)|Four Horsemen]] backfield in the [[1925 Rose Bowl]]. Five days after having a cast removed from one of his ankles, Nevers played all 60 minutes of the Rose Bowl, averaged 42 yards on his punts, and carried the ball 34 times for 114 yards, only 13 yards less than all the Four Horsemen combined.<ref>{{College Football HoF|id=1391|name=Ernie "Big Dog" Nevers|access-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>

Nevers again proved to be a multi-sport star, competing for Stanford's basketball and baseball teams in the winter and spring of 1925. A newspaper account from February 1925 stated that he was "pressing for honors as the best all around athlete in the annals of the west."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Pressing West Athletes Hard|newspaper=Great Falls Tribune|date=February 17, 1925|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10336982/ernie_nevers_pressing_west_athletes_hard/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> During the summer of 1925, Nevers worked for the Starrett Meat Company in [[Guerneville, California]], and pitched for the town's baseball team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Signs With Guerneville|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=June 7, 1925|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10337085/ernie_nevers_signs_with_guerneville/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===1925 season===
As a senior, Nevers and Pop Warner led the [[1925 Stanford football team]] to a 7–2 record. At the end of the 1925 season, Nevers was a consensus All-American, receiving first-team honors from, among others, the All-America Board, the [[Associated Press]], ''[[Collier's Weekly]]'', the [[International News Service]], ''Liberty'' magazine, the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]], and ''Athlete & Sportsman'' magazine.

==Professional football and baseball player==
===Jacksonville football team===
In December 1925, Nevers received between $25,000 and $35,000 to play professional football for a team in [[Jacksonville, Florida]]. Nevers' team played two exhibition games against NFL opponents: the [[Chicago Bears]], led by [[Red Grange]], on January 2, and the [[New York Giants]] on January 9. However, meager crowds forced the team to fold after only two games.<ref>{{cite news |title= Jaguars not city's first stars |url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011600/nef_1817869.html |newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |date= January 16, 2000|access-date=June 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title="Pro" Outlook Dims as Ernie Nevers 'Flops'|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=January 17, 1926|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10340450/pro_outlook_dims_as_ernie_nevers/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Made $35,000 During Florida Venture|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=February 9, 1926|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10340542/nevers_made_35000_during_florida/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===1926 St. Louis Browns===
After his first venture with professional football ended, Nevers joined the [[St. Louis Browns]] of [[Major League Baseball]]. He appeared in 12 games, 11 as a pitcher, for the [[1926 St. Louis Browns season|1926 Browns]], compiling a 2–4 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] and a 4.46 [[earned run average]] (ERA) in 74-2/3 innings pitched. At the plate, he had a .185 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] in 27 at bats.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Ernie Nevers Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 17, 2017|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/neverer01.shtml}}</ref> Nevers threw the ball in an unusual [[Submarine (baseball)|underhand delivery]]. On August 13, 1926, in the highlight of Nevers' 1926 season, he pitched a complete game victory over the [[1926 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]], giving up eight hits and two runs against a lineup that included Hall of Famers [[Ty Cobb]], [[Heinie Manush]], [[Charlie Gehringer]], and [[Harry Heilmann]], and [[Bob Fothergill]] who hit .367 that year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Stops Tiger Hitters In Pinch|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=August 13, 1926|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10341173/nevers_stops_tiger_hitters_in_pinch/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===1926 Duluth Eskimos===
In September 1926, Nevers left the Browns to play professional football for the [[Duluth Eskimos]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Is Footballing Again|newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News|date=September 7, 1926|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10341362/ernie_nevers_is_footballing_again/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>  Nevers' childhood friend [[Ole Haugsrud]] owned the Eskimos.  The [[1926 Duluth Eskimos season|1926 Eskimos]], with a 16-man roster, played a 29-game schedule and compiled a 19–7–3 record. Nevers reportedly played 1,714 minutes out of a possible 1,740 minutes that year.<ref>{{cite news|title='All new' showplace at HOF|newspaper=Massillon (OH) Independent|date=June 5, 1975|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10327884/all_new_showplace_at_hof/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Highlights of Nevers' 1926 season included the following:
* On September 19, 1926, in Nevers' first game for Duluth, the Eskimos played their only home game, defeating the [[1926 Kansas City Cowboys season|Kansas City Cowboys]], 7–0. Nevers scored the game's only touchdown, kicked the extra point, and was reportedly "here, there and everywhere performing in a triple threat role."<ref>{{cite news|title=Duluth 7 Kansas City 0|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=September 20, 1926|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10353893/duluth_7_kansas_city_0/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On October 10, 1926, Nevers led the Eskimos to a 26–0 victory over the [[1926 Hammond Pros season|Hammond Pros]]. Nevers threw a touchdown pass to [[Joe Rooney (American football)|Joe Rooney]] and also scored a rushing touchdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Pilots His Duluth Eskimos to Win Over Hammond|newspaper=Hartford Courant|date=October 11, 1926|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354049/nevers_pilots_his_duluth_eskimos_to_win/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On October 17, 1926, Nevers threw a touchdown pass, scored a rushing touchdown, and kicked three extra points in a 21–0 victory over the [[1926 Racine Tornadoes season|Racine Tornadoes]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Duluth Aerial Attack Routs Racine, 21–0|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 18, 1926|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354117/duluth_aerial_attack_routs_racine_21/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On October 31, 1926, the Eskimos defeated the [[1926 Milwaukee Badgers season|Milwaukee Badgers]], 7–6. The ''Los Angeles Times'' described Nevers as "the whole show", noting that he threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Rooney in the final five minutes and then kicked the extra point to give the Eskimos the victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Is Whole Show: Former Stanford Fullback Stars as His Duluth Eskimos Take Measure of Rivals by 7 to 6 Score|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 1, 1926|page=37|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354499/nevers_is_whole_show_former_stanford/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On November 11, 1926, Nevers scored all 13 Duluth points (two rushing touchdowns and an extra point) in a 14–13 loss to the [[1926 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]. Nevers' second touchdown was scored in the fourth quarter, but his kick for extra point to tie the game was blocked by [[Tillie Voss]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Scores Two Touchdowns, Giants Defeat Duluth|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post|date=November 12, 1926|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354656/nevers_scores_two_touchdowns_giants/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On November 21, 1926, Nevers scored every point for the Eskimos in a 10–2 over the [[1926 Canton Bulldogs season|Canton Bulldogs]]. Nevers rushed for a touchdown and kicked a field goal and an extra point.<ref>{{cite news|title=Canton Loses To Duluth By 10-to-2 Score|newspaper=Pittsburgh Gazette Times|date=November 22, 1926|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354341/canton_loses_to_duluth_by_10to2_score/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On November 27, 1926, Nevers scored every point in a 16–0 victory over the [[1926 Hartford Blues season|Hartford Blues]]. He kicked three field goals, including one from placement at the 45-yard line, scored a touchdown, and kicked an extra point. After the game, ''The Hartford Daily Courant'' wrote: "The men of Nevers type must be depended upon to build professional football if it is to survive."<ref>{{cite news|title=Blonde Ernie Nevers Proves to Hartford Fans His Greatness as Football Star: Scores Every Point As Duluth Beats Blues, 16–0|newspaper=The Hartford Daily Courant|date=November 28, 1926|page=2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10354261/blonde_ernie_nevers_proves_to_hartford/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Out of the 29 games played by the Eskimos in 1926, 14 are considered official by the NFL; in those games, Nevers scored 71 points on eight touchdowns, 11 extra points, and four field goals.<ref name=PFR/> At the end of his rookie season, Nevers was a consensus pick for the fullback position on the [[1926 All-Pro Team]], receiving first-team honors from ''Collyer's Eye'' magazine, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', and the ''[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lewellen Is Selected On All American Pro Team|newspaper=The Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=December 17, 1926|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10168183/lewellen_is_selected_on_all_american/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1926 NFL All-Pros|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 8, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1926/allpro.htm}}</ref>

===1927 St. Louis Browns===
Nevers returned to the St. Louis Browns in 1927.  He appeared in 33 games for the team, 27 as a pitcher, and compiled a 3–8 win–loss record and a 4.94 ERA in {{frac|94|2|3}} innings pitched and a .219 batting average in 32 at bats.<ref name=BR/> He is often remembered for having given up two home runs to [[Babe Ruth]] during the 1927 season in which Ruth broke the major league record with 60 home runs.<ref name=LAT76/>

===1927 Duluth Eskimos===
In 1927, Nevers became head coach of the Eskimos in addition to his regular position at fullback.  The [[1927 Duluth Eskimos season|1927 Eskimos]] compiled a 1–8 record and finished in 11th place in the NFL.  Highlights of Nevers 1927 season included the following:

* On October 23, 1927, Nevers completed 16 of 20 passes and threw four touchdown passes in a 27–0 victory over the [[1927 Pottsville Maroons season|Pottsville Maroons]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Stars In Gridiron Victory Over Pottsville|newspaper=Times Leader (Wilkes-Barres, PA)|date=October 24, 1927|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10372604/nevers_stars_in_gridiron_victory_over/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers: Unforgettable|newspaper=Independent, Press-Telegram (Long Beach)|date=January 25, 1970|page=56|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10328712/ernie_nevers_unforgettable/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> 
* On October 30, 1927, Nevers scored all 20 Duluth points on three touchdowns and two extra points in a 21–20 loss to the [[1927 Cleveland Bulldogs season|Cleveland Bulldogs]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers' Eleven Drops Game to Cleveland, 21–20|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=October 31, 1926|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10372656/nevers_eleven_drops_game_to_cleveland/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On November 13, 1927, Nevers ran 36 yards for a touchdown and kicked the extra point to account for Duluth's scoring in a 13–7 loss to the [[1927 Providence Steam Roller season|Providence Steam Roller]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers' Eleven Defeated, 13–7|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=November 14, 1927|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10375844/nevers_eleven_defeated_137/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On December 11, 1927, Nevers threw two touchdown passes to [[Cobb Rooney]] and kicked two extra points to account for all 14 Duluth points in a 27–14 loss to the [[1927 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bears Roll Up 27 to 14 Victory Over Duluth|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=December 12, 1927|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10372759/bears_roll_up_27_to_14_victory_over/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

After the season, Nevers was again selected by the ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'', based on the results of a questionnaires sent to the league managers and reporters, as the first-team fullback on the [[1927 All-Pro Team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Packers On All-American '11': Lewellen at Half; Dilweg for End Job|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=December 16, 1927|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10135334/two_packers_on_allamerican_11/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

===Mission Bells and Stanford football===
Nevers career in Major League Baseball came to an end in the spring of 1928.  In six games for the Browns, he compiled a 1–0 record and 3.00 ERA in nine innings pitched.<ref name=BR/> His final major league appearance was on May 4, 1928, at age 25.<ref name=BR/> Nevers was sold by the Browns for $7,500 to the [[Mission Reds|Mission Bells]], a [[Pacific Coast League]] baseball team in [[San Francisco]], in late May 1928.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Goes To Bells For $7,500|newspaper=Woodland (CA) Daily Democrat|date=May 24, 1928|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10342936/ernie_nevers_goes_to_bells_for_7500/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>  He appeared in 35 games for the Reds in 1928, compiling a 14–11 record in 206 innings and batting .374 in 91 at bats.<ref name=BRM>{{cite web|title=Ernie Nevers Minor League Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 17, 2017|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nevers001ern}}</ref> Nevers proved a draw for the Mission team, as Stanford fans and locals from Sonoma County flocked to see Nevers pitch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers On Job Again|newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News|date=May 31, 1928|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10343055/ernie_nevers_on_job_again/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

In March 1928, Nevers announced that he would not return to professional football that fall, opting instead to serve as an assistant coach to [[Pop Warner]] at Stanford.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers To Aid 'Pop' Warner|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=March 24, 1928|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10342766/ernie_nevers_to_aid_pop_warner/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Nevers said of professional football: "I hurt my back last year and don't care to take any more chances."<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers To Quit League Baseball|newspaper=The Post Crescent, Appleton, WI|date=October 10, 1928|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10343291/nevers_to_quit_league_baseball/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He returned to Stanford in September 1928 as coach of the reserve football players.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers to Coach Stanford Reserve Gridmen|newspaper=Santa Cruz Evening News|date=September 13, 1928|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10343140/ernie_nevers_to_coach_stanford_reserve/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

In February 1929, Nevers resigned from his coaching job at Stanford to return to the Mission baseball club in the PCL.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Quits Job On Stanford Grid Staff|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 18, 1929|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10343599/ernie_nevers_quits_job_on_stanford_grid/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He appeared in 41 games during the 1929 season and compiled a 7–8 win–loss record.<ref name=BRM/>

===Chicago Cardinals===
====1929 season====
In the fall of 1929, Nevers returned to the NFL to play fullback for the [[Chicago Cardinals]]. Highlights of Nevers' 1929 season include the following: 
* On November 6, 1929, he led the Cardinals to a 16–0 victory over the [[Providence Steam Roller]] in the first night game in NFL history; in that game, Nevers threw a 45-yard touchdown pass, kicked a 23-yard field goal, and ran for another touchdown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cards Defeat Rollers In Night Grid Tilt|newspaper=The Morning News (Wilmington, DE)|date=November 8, 1929|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10344851/cards_defeat_rollers_in_night_grid_tilt/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/infographic-wednesday.aspx |title=Infographic: NFL on Wednesday |publisher=Profootballhof.com |date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004224749/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/infographic-wednesday.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
* On November 24, 1929, Nevers scored all 19 points (three touchdowns and an extra point) in the Cardinals' 19–0 victory over the [[Indianapolis Colts|Dayton Triangles]], who were playing in their final game before moving to Brooklyn to embark on their long and erratic history through the league. 
* Four days later on November 28, 1929, Nevers set an NFL record for points scored by a player in a single game.  Nevers scored all 40 points in the Cardinals' 40–6 victory over the [[1929 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]; in that game, Nevers scored six rushing touchdowns, which remained an unshared NFL record until [[Alvin Kamara]] also accomplished the feat on Christmas Day, 2020 against the [[2020 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]].<ref name=singlegametie>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/12/26/alvin-kamara-saints-ties-record-vikings-six-touchdowns|title=NFL Record With Six Rushing TDs vs. Vikings|first=JBen|last=Pickman|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=December 25, 2020|access-date=December 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Triplett |first1=Mike |title=Saints' Kamara ties NFL record with 6 rush TDs |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30596974/alvin-kamara-ties-nfl-record-6-rushing-tds-new-orleans-saints-52-33-win |website=ESPN.com |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=en |date=26 December 2020}}</ref> Nevers also kicked four extra points in the same game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Whole Show As Card Win, 40–6|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Wilfrid Smith|date=November 29, 1929|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10344574/ernie_nevers_whole_show_as_cards_win/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On December 1, 1929, in a narrow loss to the [[New York Giants]], Nevers threw a touchdown pass, intercepted a [[Benny Friedman]] pass and returned it to the Giants' one-yard line, rushed for a touchdown, and kicked an extra point.<ref>{{cite news|title=Field Goal by Plansky Gives Win to Giants|newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|date=December 2, 1929|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10349053/field_goal_by_plansky_gives_win_to/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On December 8, 1929, Nevers passed for two touchdowns, ran for a touchdown, and kicked two extra points in a 26–0 victory over the [[Orange Tornadoes]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cardinals Give Orange Worst Beating, 26–0|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=December 9, 1929|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10345090/cardinals_give_orange_worst_beating/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

At the end of the 1929 season, Nevers was a consensus pick as the fullback on the [[1929 All-Pro Team]], receiving first-team honors from the ''[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]'', based on the return of 16 ballots sent to the team owners, managers, and sports writers of clubs in the NFL,<ref>{{cite news|title=Three Green Bay Packers On All-American|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=December 20, 1929|pages=19–20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10130864/three_green_bay_packers_on_allamerican/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Collyer's Eye'' magazine,<ref>{{cite web|title=1929 NFL All-Pros|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 7, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1929/allpro.htm}}</ref> and the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Packers, Giants Get 8 Places On All-Pro Eleven|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Wilfrid Smith|date=December 22, 1929|pages=2–3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10130976/packers_giants_get_8_places_on_allpro/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

====1930 season====
In 1930, Nevers returned to the Cardinals as both head coach and fullback. Highlights of his 1930 season included:
* On October 25, 1930, Nevers rushed for two touchdowns and kicked four extra points in a 34–7 victory over the [[Frankford Yellow Jackets]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cardinals Romp to 34–7 Triumph Over Frankford|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 26, 1930|page=32|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10349261/cardinals_romp_to_347_triumph_over/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On October 26, 1930, Nevers accounted for all 23 points in a 23–13 victory over the [[Portsmouth Spartans]]. In that game, Nevers threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to [[Cobb Rooney]], ran for two touchdowns, and kicked a field goal and two extra points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Portsmouth Routed, 23–13, By Cards' Rally|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 27, 1930|page=23}}</ref>  In a single weekend, with back-to back games against Frankford and Portsmouth, Nevers accounted for four rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown, a field goal, and six extra points.
* On November 16, 1930, Nevers led the Cardinals to a 13–6 victory over the 1930 NFL champion Green Bay Packers. The victory broke the Packers' 22-game winning streak. Nevers threw a touchdown pass to [[Bunny Belden]], ran for a touchdown, and converted one of two extra point attempts to account for all of the Cardinals' points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Packers Lose to Cards, 13–6, After 22 Wins: Nevers' Plunge In Last Period Routs Leaders|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Wilfrid Smith|date=November 17, 1930|pages=27, 29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10349227/packers_lose_to_cards_136_after_22/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
At the end of the 1930 season, Nevers was again selected as the consensus first-team fullback on the [[1930 All-Pro Team]] with [[Bronko Nagurski]] being picked for the second-team at the position.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dilweg, Michalske Named On All-American Pro Team; Grange, Nevers Also Chosen|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|author=[[George Whitney Calhoun]]|date=December 20, 1930|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10130493/dilweg_michalske_named_on_allamerican/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1930 NFL All-Pros|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 7, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1930/allpro.htm}}</ref>

====1931 season====
Nevers returned to the Cardinals as fullback and head coach in 1931.  Highlights of his seasons included:
* On November 1, 1931, Nevers led the Cardinals to a 14–7 victory over the [[1931 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|Brooklyn Dodgers]]. Nevers averaged 52 yards on his punts in the game, threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Kassell, rushed for a touchdown, and kicked two extra points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cardinals Win 1st Game; Beat Brooklyn, 14–7: Nevers Leads Chicagoans to Victory|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 2, 1931|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10352119/cardinals_win_1st_game_beat_brooklyn/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* On November 15, 1931, the Cardinals defeated the [[1931 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]], 21–13, giving the Packers their first loss of the year. Nevers threw two touchdown passes and kicked three extra points in the game. The Associated Press called it "one of [Nevers'] greatest exhibitions".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers and His Cards Defeat Green Bay Eleven|newspaper=The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI)|date=November 16, 1931|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10351607/ernie_nevers_and_his_cards_defeat_green/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> The Packers went on to win the 1931 NFL championship. 
* On November 22, 1931, Nevers ran for two touchdowns and kicked two extra points as the Cardinals defeated the [[Portsmouth Spartans]], 20–19.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cards Plow To 20–19 Victory Over Spartans: Nevers Scores Twice in Muddy Battle|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Wilfrid Smith|pages=23–24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10351706/cards_plow_to_2019_victory_over/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In his final NFL game, played before a crowd of 1,500 at [[Wrigley Field]] on November 29, 1931, Nevers led the Cardinals to a 21–0 victory over the [[1931 Cleveland Indians (NFL) season|Cleveland Indians]]. Nevers accounted for every point scored in the game with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Malloy, two rushing touchdowns, and three extra points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cards Conquer Cleveland, 21–0, In Charity Game: Only 1,500 See Nevers' Men Triumph|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 30, 1931|pages=2–4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10351939/cards_conquer_cleveland_210_in/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

At the end of the 1931 season, Nevers was again selected (for the fifth time in five years in the NFL) as the fullback on the [[1931 All-Pro Team|All-Pro Team]], receiving first-team honors from the ''[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]'' based on the returns of ballots sent to each club in the league as well as sports writers and officials,<ref>{{cite news|title=Four Green Bay Players Chosen On All-American|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|author=[[George Whitney Calhoun]]|date=December 19, 1931|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10009654/four_green_bay_players_chosen_on/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> the [[United Press]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Dutch Clark Is Named On All-America Pro Team: Kirksey Selects Leading Stars On Annual Selection|newspaper=The Ogden (UT) Standard-Examiner|date=December 15, 1931|author=George Kirksey|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9944244/dutch_clark_is_named_on_allamerica_pro/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> and ''Collyer's Eye''.<ref>{{cite web|title=1931 NFL All-Pros|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 2, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1931/allpro.htm}}</ref>

On January 25, 1932, Nevers broke his wrist on the final play of a charity football game in San Francisco. Afterward, Nevers announced his retirement as a player, stating that he was getting out while he was "still in one piece," and expressing a desire to pursue a career as a coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Grid Career At End; Famed Fullback Expects To Become Coach|newspaper=The Sandusky Register|date=January 26, 1932|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10357911/ernie_nevers_grid_career_at_end_famed/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
In March 1932, Nevers was hired as an assistant coach under [[Pop Warner]] at Stanford. His initial assignment was to coach the "goof squad".<ref>{{cite news|title=Name Nevers On Stanford Coach Staff|newspaper=Santa Ana Register|date=March 16, 1932|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10327188/name_nevers_on_stanford_coach_staff/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> At the end of the 1932 season, Warner resigned as Stanford's head coach, but Nevers remained as an assistant coach under [[Tiny Maxwell]] through the 1935 season. During that time, Stanford won three consecutive [[Pacific Coast Conference]] championships and played in the [[1934 Rose Bowl|1934]], [[1935 Rose Bowl|1935]], and [[1936 Rose Bowl]]s.

In January 1936, Nevers resigned his position at Stanford to accept the head coaching job at [[Lafayette College]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Named Lafayette Coach, Quits Tribe: Tiny Sorry But Wishes Aid Good Luck|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=January 17, 1936|page=32|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10327083/nevers_named_lafayette_coach_quits/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Nevers was welcomed to the [[Easton, Pennsylvania]], campus with a parade and street celebration as classes were suspended for the day and Lafayette students anticipated the school's "return to 'Big Time' position" of previous years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lafayette Suspends Classes To Welcome Ernie Nevers As Head Football Coach|newspaper=Pottstown (PA) Mercury|date=March 17, 1936|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10327042/lafayette_suspends_classes_to_welcome/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> The 1936 Lafayette team compiled a 1–8 record.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Lafayette Football|publisher=Lafayette College|year=2010|access-date=April 13, 2017|page=118|url=http://www.goleopards.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/media-guide_95-124|archive-date=April 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413034742/http://www.goleopards.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/media-guide_95-124|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 1937, Nevers resigned his post at Lafayette upon being appointed backfield and ends coach for the [[University of Iowa]] under head coach [[Irl Tubbs]]. Tubbs had been Nevers' high school football coach in [[Superior, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers To Coach Backfield and Ends at Iowa|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 16, 1937|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10326934/ernie_nevers_to_coach_backfield_and/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Nevers coached at Iowa for two years during which time the team compiled records of 1–7 in [[1937 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|1937]] and 1–6–1 in [[1938 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|1938]].

In December 1938, after the [[Chicago Cardinals]] had compiled a 2–9 record during the 1938 season, Nevers was hired as the team's head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Returns To Pro Ranks As Coach of Cards|author=George Strickler|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=December 2, 1938|pages=27, 39|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10326865/nevers_returns_to_pro_ranks_as_coach_of/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>  The [[1939 Chicago Cardinals season|1939 Cardinals]] compiled a 1–10 record. In February 1940, Nevers resigned from the Cardinals, saying he wished to reside permanently in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Mails Resignation as Cards' Coach|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=February 20, 1940|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10266400/nevers_mails_resignation_as_cards_coach/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Quits as Cardinal Coach|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=February 20, 1940|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10326817/ernie_nevers_quits_as_cardinal_coach/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Nevers received numerous honors and awards during and after his playing career, including the following:

* In 1925, the football field at Santa Rosa High School was renamed Nevers Field in his honor.
* After Nevers left Stanford, his jersey (No. 1) was retired by the football program. It was Stanford's only retired number for more than 50 years until [[Jim Plunkett]]'s number was also retired.<ref name=Lieb/>
* In 1931, a committee of 12 leading football coaches led by [[Pop Warner]] met to determine the greatest football player of all time.  Nevers finished in a tie with [[Red Grange]] for second place behind only [[Jim Thorpe]]. Warner actually picked Nevers first and noted: "Ernie Nevers played his position by far the best of any player I ever saw. He had a wonderful physique – was big and powerful yet very active. Nevers was the mental type every coach likes to have on his football team. He was a fine punter, a fine forward passer, a great line plunger and a marvel on defense. Ernie Nevers was a football player without fault."<ref>{{cite news|title=Who Is Football's Greatest Players?|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=November 22, 1931|page=95|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10238742/who_is_footballs_greatest_player/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In April 1951, Nevers was selected as the fullback on the all-time All-America team selected in a nationwide poll by the Associated Press as part of the process to select nominees for the National Football Hall of Fame.<ref name=SC51>{{cite news|title=Nevers Named All Time All America Back|newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|author=Russ Newland|date=April 12, 1951|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10239248/nevers_named_all_time_all_america_back/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In November 1951, Nevers was selected as one of the inaugural inductees for the National Football Hall of Fame (later renamed the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]).<ref>{{cite news|title=53 Men Honored In Hall of Fame: Hutson, Nevers Go In on First Ballot|newspaper=News-Herald (Marshfield, WI)|date=November 5, 1951|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10239327/53_men_honored_in_hall_of_fame_hutson/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1962, he was selected by ''Sports Illustrated'' as the best college football player of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Alfred |title=The Best College Player of All-Time |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1962/09/24/the-best-college-player-of-all-time |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us}}</ref>
* In 1963, Nevers was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] as part of its charter class.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seventeen Former Grid Stars Named To Football Fame Hall|newspaper=The Shreveport (LA) Times|date=January 30, 1963|page=11A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10239185/seventeen_former_grid_stars_named_to/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1969, at the time of college football's centennial, Nevers was selected at fullback on college football's all-time All-America teams selected by the [[Football Writers Association of America]] (FWAA) and ''Football News''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grange, Nagurski Top Modern All-Time Team In College Football|newspaper=The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)|date=September 18, 1969|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10358416/grange_nagurski_top_modern_alltime/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Simpson, Nobis Named All-Time All-Americans|newspaper=The Cumberland News|date=September 9, 1969|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10358298/simpson_nobis_named_alltime/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was also named that same year to the National Football League 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Unitas, Brown, Sayers on All-Time NFL Team|newspaper=Great Falls Tribune|date=September 7, 1969|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10358065/unitas_brown_sayers_on_alltime_nfl/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 1979, Nevers was selected as one of the inaugural inductees (along with [[Willie Mays]], [[Joe DiMaggio]] and [[Bill Russell]]) into the [[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Baseball Greats Join Inductees In Bay Area Hall of Fame|newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel|date=October 12, 1979|page=43|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10358899/baseball_greats_join_inductees_in_bay/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 2003, he was honored by the United States Postal Service as one of four players (along with [[Red Grange]], [[Walter Camp]], and [[Bronko Nagurski]]) to be featured on a postage stamp as early gridiron heroes.<ref name=EGH>{{cite news|title=Football legend honored on postage stamp: Ernie Nevers recognized as an early gridiron hero|newspaper=The Oshkosh Northwestern|author=Doug Zellmer|date=September 16, 2003|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10238535/football_legend_honored_on_postage/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>
* In 2010, the [[NFL Network]] ranked Nevers 89th on its list of the 100 greatest players of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Top 100 Players of All Time|newspaper=The Hartford Courant|date=November 7, 2010|page=E7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10358611/top_100_players_of_all_time_nfl/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Family, military service, and later years==
Nevers was married to Mary Elizabeth "Mae" Heagerty in February 1926 in [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers and Wife Mix Signals, Dodge Rice Play|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=February 17, 1926|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10310431/ernie_nevers_and_wife_mix_signals/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

On August 20, 1938, Nevers served as an official for a golf match at [[Duluth, Minnesota]], between blind golfers Clinton F. Russell of Duluth and Dr. W. H. I. Oxenham of England, both of whom had been featured in [[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Blind Golfers Match Strokes in City Today|newspaper=Duluth News-Tribune|date=August 20, 1938|page=1}}</ref>

In September 1942, Nevers enlisted at age 39 in the [[United States Marine Corps]]; he was given the rank of captain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Gets Marine Captaincy|newspaper=Santa Ana Register|date=September 17, 1942|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314148/ernie_nevers_gets_captaincy/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In the spring of 1943, he was stationed at the Olds Gunnery School in [[Lansing, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=City Is Host To Grid Great|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|date=April 4, 1943|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314272/city_is_host_to_grid_great_capt_ernie/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> While Nevers was stationed at a Marine base in [[Santa Barbara, California]], his wife became ill with pneumonia; she died in a San Francisco hospital in July 1943.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mrs. Ernie Nevers Claimed By Death in S.F. Hospital|newspaper=The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)|date=July 14, 1943|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10310504/mrs_ernie_nevers_claimed_by_death_in/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Nevers left for the [[Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I|South Pacific theater of World War II]] in October 1943.<ref>{{cite news|title=Captain Ernie Nevers of Marine Corps Finally Gets His Overseas Assignment|author=Russ Newland|newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=October 23, 1943|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314429/capt_nevers_of_marine_corps_finally/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In April 1944, he was reported by the [[Associated Press]] to have been stationed for the past several months with a marine amphibious unit in the Pacific.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers, Former Star, to Seek Post-War Pro Grid Franchise|newspaper=Decatur Herald and Review|date=April 9, 1944|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314545/nevers_former_star_to_seek_postwar/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In October 1944, Nevers returned to San Francisco after spending 10 months in charge of ground personnel with a squadron in the South Pacific.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Back From Pacific Area Reports On Athletics and Snakes|newspaper=Reno Gazette-Journal|date=October 5, 1933|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314660/ernie_nevers_back_from_pacific_area/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In December 1944, while stationed at [[Naval Station Treasure Island]] in San Francisco, Nevers was promoted to the rank of major.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers Becomes Major|newspaper=The Fresno Bee|date=December 22, 1944|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314774/nevers_becomes_major/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In February 1945, he became the athletic officer at the Marine Corps base in [[San Diego]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Joins San Diego Marines|newspaper=The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California)|date=February 9, 1945|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10314848/ernie_nevers_joins_san_diego_marines/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

At the end of February 1945, Nevers agreed to serve as an assistant coach with the [[Chicago Rockets]] of the [[All-America Football Conference]] upon his discharge from the Marine Corps.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dick Hanley To Coach Chicago All-America|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 1, 1945|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10321286/dick_hanley_to_coach_chicago/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> As of mid-May 1945, Nevers was awaiting his discharge papers and had become associated with a trucking company pending the commencement of his coaching duties with the Rockets.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevers To Leave Marine Service|newspaper=Petaluma Argus-Courier|date=May 23, 1945|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10321422/nevers_to_leave_marine_service/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Nevers ultimately served in the fall of 1946 as the backfield coach for the Rockets.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pat Boland Named Rockets Coach|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=October 30, 1946|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10321653/pat_boland_named_rockets_coach/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Nevers was remarried to Margery Luxem Railton of Chicago in February 1947. It was the second marriage for both.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers Will Wed Chicago Woman Today|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=February 1, 1947|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10310270/ernie_nevers_will_wed_chicago_woman/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>  They had a daughter, Tina (born May 1948),<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers A Proud Father|newspaper=Petaluma Argus-Courier|date=May 26, 1948|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10321820/ernie_nevers_a_proud_father/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>  Ernie Nevers also had a son, Gene Sullivan (born Aug 1947).

After retiring from football, Nevers lived in [[Strawberry, Marin County, California|Strawberry]] and then [[Tiburon, California|Tiburon]], both in [[Marin County, California]], and worked in public relations and sales promotion for a wine association and a wholesale liquor company.<ref name=LAT76/><ref name=SC51/><ref>{{cite news|title="Why Big Hubbub?" Ernie Nevers Asks|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=July 22, 1956|page=55|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10322296/why_big_hubbub_ernie_nevers_asks/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 1950, Nevers and his wife had a television show broadcast on Friday nights on [[KGO-TV|KGO]] in [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ward |first=Alan |date=July 23, 1950 |title=On Second Thought |page=25 |work=Oakland Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10310221/on_second_thought_ernie_nevers/ |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> In September 1954, Nevers began another television show known as "Out on a Limb With Ernie Nevers".<ref>{{cite news|title=Ernie Nevers To Start TV Series|newspaper=Independent-Journal (San Rafael, Calif.)|date=September 17, 1954|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10322180/ernie_nevers_to_start_tv_series/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Nevers died in May 1976 at age 73 at Marin General Hospital in [[Greenbrae, California]].<ref name=LAT76>{{cite news|title=Stanford's Finest, Ernie Nevers, Dies|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 4, 1976|page=III-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10238885/stanfords_finest_ernie_nevers_dies/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> Press accounts differed as to the cause of his death, one indicating that he had been suffering from a kidney disorder,<ref name=CT76>{{cite news|title=Grid great Nevers dies|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=May 4, 1976|page=4-1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10238986/grid_great_nevers_dies/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> and another saying he had been under treatment for a heart condition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Death Stops Greatest 60-Minute Football Player in Ernie Nevers|newspaper=Palladium-Item, Richmond, Indiana|date=May 4, 1976|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10239392/death_stops_greatest_60minute_football/|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> He was buried at Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in [[San Rafael, California]].

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Lafayette Leopards football|Lafayette Leopards]]
 | conf      = [[Middle Three Conference]]
 | startyear = 1936
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1936 college football season|1936]]
 | name         = [[1936 Lafayette Leopards football team|Lafayette]]
 | overall      = 1–8
 | conference   = 0–1
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Lafayette
 | overall    = 1–8
 | confrecord = 0–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 1–8
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

===NFL===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year !! rowspan="2" | Team !! colspan="5" | Regular season !! colspan="4" | Postseason
|-
! Won !! Lost !! Ties !! Win % !! Finish !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
! {{NFL Year|1927}} || [[1927 Duluth Eskimos season|DUL]]
|| 1 || 8 || 0 || {{Winning percentage|1|8}} || 11th in NFL || — || — || — || —
|-
! {{NFL Year|1930}} || [[1930 Chicago Cardinals season|CHC]]
|| 5 || 6 || 2 || {{Winning percentage|5|6|2}} || 7th in NFL || — || — || — || —
|-
! {{NFL Year|1931}} || [[1931 Chicago Cardinals season|CHC]]
|| 5 || 3 || 0 || {{Winning percentage|5|3}} || 4th in NFL || — || — || — || —
|-
! {{NFL Year|1939}} || [[1939 Chicago Cardinals season|CHC]]
|| 1 || 10 || 0 || {{Winning percentage|1|10}} || 5th in NFL Western || — || — || — || —
|-
! colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/NeveEr0.htm Total] || 12 || 27 || 2 || {{Winning percentage|12|27|2}} || N/A || — || — || — || 
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[Rudy Rintala]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |first=George |last=Sullivan |title=The Great Running Backs |location=New York |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |year=1972 |isbn=0-399-11026-7 |pages=31–36 }}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Profootballhof|ernie-nevers/}}
* {{College Football HoF|1391}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=ernie-nevers |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=N/NeveEr20 |rotoworld= |dbf=}}
* {{Baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=n/neverer01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm= }}

{{Duluth Kelleys coach navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals coach navbox}}
{{Lafayette Leopards football coach navbox}}
{{1925 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{NFL1920s}}
{{1963 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nevers, Ernie}}
[[Category:1902 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:American football fullbacks]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cardinals coaches]]
[[Category:Chicago Cardinals head coaches]]
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[[Category:Duluth Eskimos players]]
[[Category:Lafayette Leopards football coaches]]
[[Category:Santa Rosa Bear Cubs football players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Browns players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
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[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:People from Guerneville, California]]
[[Category:People from Pine County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Superior, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Santa Rosa, California]]
[[Category:Baseball players from California]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Sonoma County, California]]