Ernie Wheeler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.[1]
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| Positions | Defensive back • Tailback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | January 28, 1915 Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | June 18, 1982 (aged 67) Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.[1] | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Central (Fargo)[2] | ||||||||
| College | North Dakota State (1935-1938) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1939: 5th round, 32nd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Ernest Martin Wheeler (January 28, 1915 – June 18, 1982)[3] was an American football defensive back and tailback who played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1939 and 1942.[2]
Wheeler played college football at North Dakota State University from 1936 to 1938, and was named to the All-North Central Conference team each year as a running back. In college, he also played basketball and participated in track events.[4] In the 1939 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose Wheeler with the 32nd overall pick, during round five.[5] Wheeler played in five games for the Pirates, posting 8 rushing yards in 15 attempts. He also delivered a punt of 75 yards, the second-longest in the NFL that year. Later in 1939, Wheeler played in two games for the Chicago Cardinals, rushing the ball twice for a net loss of eight yards. He did not play again in the NFL until 1942, when he played in three games for the Cardinals.[2] Wheeler was part of the inaugural class inducted into North Dakota State's Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.[6]
