Jack Manders

Jack Manders
refer to caption
Manders in 1936
No. 10
Position:Halfback
Fullback
Kicker
Personal information
Born:(1909-01-13)January 13, 1909
Milbank, South Dakota, U.S.
Died:January 29, 1977(1977-01-29) (aged 68)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:203 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Milbank (SD)
College:Minnesota
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:93
Games started:42
Rushing yards:1,586 (3.5 average)
Rushing touchdowns:11
Receiving yards:260 (17.3 average)
Receiving touchdowns:6
Field goals:19-for-40 (47.5%)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Albert "Automatic Jack" Manders (January 13, 1909 – January 29, 1977) was an American football player. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears from 1933 to 1940.

A kicking savant in the era of one-platoon football, Manders gained his "Automatic" moniker kicking an NFL record 72 consecutive points after touchdown, dating from his entry into the league in the first game of 1933.[1] In his 8-season NFL career he scored a total of 368 points — 19 touchdowns, 40 field goals, and 134 points after touchdown — again an NFL individual record.[1]

Article on "Automatic Jack" Manders, Bears kicker, from Pro Football Illustrated, Fall 1941. Photo at top illustrates the point-blank nature of PAT kicks, booted from the 10 through goalposts on the goal line.

Manders began his NFL career as a fullback but was moved by Bears head coach George Halas to the halfback position in 1937.[1] He was used primarily as a blocker during the 1939 and 1940 Bears seasons and was slated to be moved from the backfield to the line to play as a guard in 1941.[1]

Manders was the second pro football player to appear on a Wheaties box.[2] He was also a member of the Chicago team coached by George Halas that defeated the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game by the memorable score of 73–0.

He was the older brother of Clarence "Pug" Manders, who played contemporaneously as a blocking back for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Jack 'Automatic' Manders," in Pro Football Illustrated: The Picture Magazine of Pro Football: Fall 1941 Edition. Mt. Morris, IL: Elbak Publishing Co., 1941; p. 3.
  2. ^ "When 'Automatic Jack' wowed Wheaties fans".
  3. ^ "Young Brothers of Pro Stars Drafted," Kenosha News, Jan. 4, 1941, p. 3.