Ernie Zalejski

Ernest Raymond Zalejski (November 23, 1925 – August 5, 2012) was an American football back who played one season with the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 1950 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and attended Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana.[1]

Ernie Zalejski
No. 89
Position:Defensive back / Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1925-11-23)November 23, 1925
South Bend, Indiana
Died:August 5, 2012(2012-08-05) (aged 86)
South Bend, Indiana
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Washington
(South Bend, Indiana)
College:Notre Dame
NFL Draft:1950 / Round: 5 / Pick: 62
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Head coaching record
Career:24–13–4 (.634)
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Zalejski played high school football at Washington High School all-state honors three times from 1942 to 1944. He was named Most Valuable Player of the North Indiana Conference in 1944. He also won two state championships in 1943 and 1944.[2]

Military career

Zalejski joined the United States Army after graduating from high school in 1945. He served in the Philippines and was in the U.S. occupation force in Japan. He was then shortly stationed in Seattle before being discharged and enrolling at the University of Notre Dame.[3]

College career

Zalejski played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1946 to 1949. The Fighting Irish won 39 games and were undefeated during his time there. They were also national champions in 1946, 1947 and 1949. Zalejski was named to the Blue Gray All Star Game in 1949.[2]

Professional career

Zalejski was selected by the Chicago Bears of the NFL with the 62nd pick in the 1950 NFL Draft.[1] He played in eleven games for the NFL's Baltimore Colts during the 1950 season.[4]

Coaching career

Zalejski served as head coach at Joliet Catholic High School from 1954 to 1958, accumulating a record of 24-13-4. He retired from coaching in 1959.

Personal life

Zalejski was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the South Bend Hall of Fame in 2004.[2][3][5] He was also area manager of the U.S. Saving Bonds Division of the U.S. Treasury Department.[6]

References
  1. "ERNIE ZALEJSKI". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  2. "Ernest Raymond 'Ernie' Zalejski". oldestlivingprofootball.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  3. Rallo, Curt (August 8, 2012). "Notre Dame football: Zalejski was one of best area has seen". orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  4. "Ernie Zalejski". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  5. "Hall of Fame Archives". southbendalumni.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  6. "ZALEJSKI, ERNEST "ERNIE"". indiana-football.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
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