Joe Kopcha
Appearance
No. 22, 29, 18 | |||||||
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Position: | Guard | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Whiting, Indiana, U.S. | December 23, 1905||||||
Died: | July 29, 1986 Hobart, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 80)||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Whiting (IN) | ||||||
College: | Chattanooga | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Joseph Edwards Kopcha (December 23, 1905 – July 29, 1986) was an American professional football player who was a guard for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Chicago Bears.
Kopcha attended the
Harper Hospital, after previously studying at the Rush Medical College when playing for the Bears.[3] Kopcha used his knowledge to redesign the shoulder pads worn by players, with his basic designs still in use today.[4]
Personal life
Kopcha was of Polish descent.[5]
References
- ^ Layden, Elmer (November 1936). "College Athletics Over-Emphasised? No!". The Rotarian. 49 (5): 60.
- ISBN 0-252-07166-2.
- ^ Heise, Kenan. "Dr. Joseph Kopcha, 80, Guard For Bears In '30s". www.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ Braunwart, Bob. "DR. JOE: A GUARD'S GUARD" (PDF). www.profootballresearchers.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ Ronkowski, Steve (March 5, 2012). "Pulaski Day Special: All-Time, All-Polish Bears Team". Windy City Gridiron.