Bob Nash (American football)

Robert Arthur “Nasty” Nash (December 16, 1892 – February 1, 1977) was an Irish-American professional American football player who played in the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League in 1922) for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester Jeffersons and the New York Giants. Prior to joining the AFPA, Nash played professionally in the "Ohio League" for the Massillon Tigers. He was considered by sports historians as one of the greatest tackles of his era.

Bob Nash
Position:End / Tackle
Personal information
Born:(1892-12-16)December 16, 1892
County Meath, Ireland
Died:February 1, 1977(1977-02-01) (aged 84)
Winchester, Connecticut
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Bernardsville (NJ) Bernards
College:Rutgers
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
  • All-American (1914)
  • Head coaching record: 11–6–1
  • Part of the first NFL player trade (1920)
  • NFL champion (1920)
  • Third-Team All-Pro (1920)
  • 1st Captain - New York Giants (1925)
  • Rutgers Hall of Fame (1988)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Nash was born in Ireland and raised in Bernardsville, New Jersey,[1] where he played high school football at Bernards High School.[2] Prior to playing professional football, Nash played college football at Cornell University and at Rutgers, where he received All-American honors in 1914.[1] He was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 1988.

Professional career

On Sunday, October 10, 1920, Nash is credited with the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game featuring two league teams.[3]

On Sunday, October 24, 1920, Nash picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter and ran eight yards for the only score of the day as the Pros defeated the Cleveland Tigers, 7–0.

On Sunday, October 31, 1920, according to Ike Roy Martin; on a punt return Jim Thorpe had instructed Martin to let Nash get by him. Thorpe had wanted to run into Nash, which he did. The collision resulted in them both being knocked out and they were carried off the field.[4]

Nash was also a part of the first APFA player deal, in 1920, when Akron sold Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate receipts during a game between the two clubs. However, since Nash was a part of the Akron Pros during their championship season, he is credited as belonging on their championship team. Nash was also the very first captain of the New York Giants.

References
  1. Staff. "Robert Nash Dies at 84", The New York Times, February 2, 1977. Accessed July 11, 2018. "Born in Ireland, Mr. Nash spent his early years in Bernardsville, N. J."
  2. Bob Nash Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed July 11, 2018. "High School: Bernards (NJ)"
  3. Braunwart, Bob; Carroll, Bob (1981). "The First NFL Game(s)" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 3 (2). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  4. Willis, Chris; Horrigan, Joe (2005). Old Leather (1st ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-8108-5660-8.
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