Al Hoptowit

Al Hoptowit
No. 26
Position:Tackle
Personal information
Born:(1915-09-17)September 17, 1915
Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Died:April 6, 1981(1981-04-06) (aged 65)
Yakima, Washington, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Wapato (WA)
College:Washington State
NFL draft:1938 / round: 11 / pick: 91
(by the Cleveland Rams)[1]
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Alphonse William Hoptowit (September 7, 1915 – April 6, 1981), nicknamed "Hoppy" and "Tonto", was an American football tackle who played four seasons with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cleveland Rams in the eleventh round of the 1938 NFL draft. He played college football at Washington State University and attended Wapato High School in Wapato, Washington.[2] Hoptowit was also a member of the Newark Bears of the American Association.

College career

Hoptowit played for the Washington State Cougars from 1933 to 1937.[3] He earned Second-team All-PCC honors his senior year in 1937.[4]

Professional career

Hoptowit was selected by the Cleveland Rams with the 91st pick in the 1938 NFL draft.[5] He played two seasons of rugby in Canada prior to joining the Chicago Bears.[6]

He came up to the Chicago Bears in 1941 before playing for the Newark Bears of the American Association the same year.[7] Newark was Chicago's farm team.[8] Hoptowit later played in 41 games, starting nineteen, for the Chicago Bears from 1942 to 1945.[2]

Coaching career

Hoptowit served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears' farm team, the Akron Bears, in 1946.[6] He was an assistant coach for the Washington State Cougars in 1947.[6]

Personal life

Hoptowit was a Native American.[3]

References

  1. ^ "1938 Cleveland Rams". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved July 17, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "AL HOPTOWIT". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Hoptowit New Cougar Football Assistant". Eugene Register-Guard. United Press. March 12, 1947. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "1937 AP All Pacific Coast team". The Bakersfield Californian. Associated Press. December 2, 1937. p. 23. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  5. ^ "1938 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Al Hoptowit Named Assistant Grid Coach at Washington State College". The Spokesman-Review. March 12, 1947. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  7. ^ Prell, Edward (October 18, 1944). "Al Hoptowit Does That in Bears' Battles". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 23. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "Chicago Bears Farm Two Half backs to Newark Bears". San Jose Evening News. Associated Press. September 7, 1940. Retrieved September 19, 2015.