25 Facts About Gene Ronzani

Eugene A Ronzani was a professional football player and coach in the National Football League.

Gene Ronzani was the second head coach of the Green Bay Packers, from 1950 to 1953, and resigned with two games remaining in the 1953 season.

Gene Ronzani was then able to send for his wife in Italy, Caterina Broglio Ronzani, and their two oldest siblings.

Five more children were born in Michigan, Gene Ronzani was the fifth of the seven.

Gene Ronzani graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1929, just across the state border with Wisconsin.

Gene "Tuffy" Ronzani was a chief contributor to Marquette sports in the early 1930s as the first of two MU nine-letter athletes.

Gene Ronzani was born in Iron Mountain, a small mining town in Michigan's upper peninsula and entered Marquette in the fall of 1929, following his two brothers Anthony and David Ronzani of a first generation Italian family.

Gene Ronzani went out for freshman football, track and basketball and made all three varsity teams his sophomore year.

In track, Gene Ronzani under Coach Con Jennings, was a consistent team man in shot put and javelin.

Gene Ronzani competed with Marquette's 1932 Central Collegiate champions, and tried out for the US Olympic team in the spring of 1932.

Gene Ronzani entered the NFL three years before the first NFL Draft and played in the backfield for the Chicago Bears from 1933 to 1938.

The American Association returned in 1946 as the "American Football League," and the minor league Bears moved from Newark to Akron, Ohio, where Gene Ronzani resumed his duties as head coach.

Gene Ronzani was hired as the backfield coach at Notre Dame in March 1945, but he left in early September to rejoin the Bears as a player, weeks before the opener in late September.

Gene Ronzani was the backfield coach for three seasons under owner and head coach Halas.

Gene Ronzani became only the second head coach of the Green Bay Packers in February 1950, following the resignation of founder Curly Lambeau.

In January 1953, Gene Ronzani agreed to a second three-year contract offered by the executive committee.

Gene Ronzani resigned the next day with two games remaining and received a $7,500 severance.

Gene Ronzani was present in the press box at the San Francisco game.

Gene Ronzani is credited with "solidifying" green into the uniform color scheme, something he introduced in taking over the team in 1950.

Gene Ronzani did so, saying, "We are the 'Green' Bay Packers," emphasizing the color green.

Gene Ronzani was hired in March 1954 as the backfield coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, under head coach Joe Bach.

Gene Ronzani was succeeded by line coach Walt Kiesling, a previous head coach with the team.

Less than two weeks after the final game, Gene Ronzani was encouraged by Rooney to resign.

Gene Ronzani had heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in 1968, and died in 1975 at age 66.

Gene Ronzani was buried at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain.