Ernie Wheeler

American football player (1915–1982)

American football player

Ernie Wheeler

Personal information

Born:

(1915-01-28)January 28, 1915
Fargo, North Dakota

Died:

June 18, 1982(1982-06-18) (aged 67)
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Height:

6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Weight:

190 lb (86 kg)

Career information

College:

North Dakota State

Position:

Defensive back–Tailback

NFL draft:

1939 / Round: 5 / Pick: 32

Career history

Pittsburgh Pirates (1939)
Chicago Cardinals (1939, 1942)

Career NFL statistics

Rushing yards:	0
Rushing average:	0.0
Rushing TDs:	0

Ernest Martin Wheeler (January 28, 1915 – June 18, 1982)^[1] 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.^[3] In the 1939 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose Wheeler with the 32nd overall pick, during round five.^[4] 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.^[5]

References

^ The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia Second Edition. New York City: Sterling Publishing. 2007. p. 733. ISBN 978-1-4027-5250-6.
^ ^a ^b "Ernie Wheeler". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
^ "Ernie Wheeler". North Dakota State University. November 5, 2004. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
^ "1939 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
^ "Bison Athletic Hall of Fame". North Dakota State University. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2017.