Reino Nori
Halfback | |||||
| Personal information | |||||
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| Born: | February 26, 1913 DeKalb, Illinois | ||||
| Died: | October 8, 1988 (aged 75) DeKalb, Illinois | ||||
| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 165 lb (75 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | DeKalb (DeKalb, Illinois) | ||||
| College: | Northern Illinois | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Reino Oscar Nori (February 26, 1913 – October 8, 1988) was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Bears from 1937 to 1938. Standing just 5'7" tall and weighing about 150 pounds, Nori was among the smallest players of his era in the NFL.
Nori was a multi-sport collegiate star at Northern Illinois State Teachers College, earning 17 athletic letters and gaining induction into the Northern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame.
Biography
Early years
Reino Nori was born February 26, 1913 in DeKalb, Illinois. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) as a boy.[1] He attended DeKalb High School.[2]
He attended Northern Illinois State Teachers' College in DeKalb, where he was a multi-sport athlete, earning a total of 17 athletic letters in football, basketball. track and field, and wrestling.[3] While at the school he gained the nickname "The Flying Finn."[3]
Nori's 17 athletic letters earned at Northern Illinois stands as a school record and earned him election as one of the first members of the Northern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]
Although the undersized Nori still managed to achieve All-Conference status as a
Professional football career
In 1936, Nori was in camp with the
He had better success during the 1937 season, when he landed a place on the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers.[6] He appeared in a total of six games for the Dodgers, including one start.[6] He finished the year going 11-for-23 passing (47.8% completion rate) for 168 yards and 1 touchdown, against 3 interceptions.[6] He additionally rushed 26 times for 81 yards, a 3.1 yards per carry average.[6]
He returned to the NFL for the 1938 season as a member of the Chicago Bears. Nori only saw action in a single game for the Bears in 1938, during which he ran the ball one time for one yard.[6]
Nori's prospects for the
Life after football
After his release by the Bears, Nori tried his hand at authorship, devising a new system for fans to
Nori served in the US Army for three years and served overseas.[2]
He later pursued a Master's degree, which he received from the University of Alabama.[2] He was for many years a high school athletic coach in various school districts around Illinois.[2]
Death and legacy
Nori died October 8, 1988, in DeKalb, Illinois.
Nori is a member of the Northern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame.[2] His 17 athletic letters earned at the school still stands as a school record.
References
- ^ "Many Awards Received by Boy Scouts of Area," DeKalb Daily Chronicle, March 3, 1930, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "NIU Hall of Fame Athlete Dies at 75," DeKalb Daily Chronicle, Oct. 9, 1988, p. 1.
- ^ a b Harold "Speed" Johnson (ed.), Who's Who in Major League Football 1936. Chicago: B.E. Callahan, 1936; p. 12.
- ^ Nori was said to be the smallest player in the entire NFL in 1938. See: "He's Smallest," Mt. Carmel [PA] Item, July 23, 1938, p. 8.
- ^ "Lions Release Nori to Bicos for Experience," Detroit Free Press, Oct. 7, 1936, p. 19.
- ^ a b c d e Pete Palmer, et al. (eds.), The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia. First edition. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2006; p. 510.
- ^ a b c "Bears Have Plans for Nori," DeKalb Daily Chronicle, Aug. 12, 1939, p. 6.
- ^ "Eddie's Sport Comment," DeKalb Daily Chronicle, Sept. 9, 1939, p. 8.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference