1. Leo Joseph Nomellini was an Italian-American professional football player and professional wrestler.
17 Facts About Leo Nomellini
1. 2.
Leo Nomellini played college football for the Minnesota Gophers and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1950 NFL draft.
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Leo Nomellini played 14 seasons as a defensive tackle in the National Football League, all of them with the 49ers, playing his first three years as an offensive tackle as well.
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Leo Nomellini was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969 and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
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Leo Nomellini was born at Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, and immigrated to the United States as an infant to Minnesota, before later moving to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Crane High School.
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Leo Nomellini was an All-American for the Minnesota Golden Gophers track and field team, finishing 7th in the hammer throw at the 1948 NCAA track and field championships.
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Leo Nomellini was selected in the 1st round of the 1950 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, the NFL draft in which that former All-America Football Conference team was a part.
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Leo Nomellini was selected to the All-NFL team six times: two years on offense and four years on defense.
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Leo Nomellini won his first tag team championship in NWA San Francisco on March 14,1952, when he teamed with Hombre Montana.
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On May 11,1954, Leo Nomellini teamed with Rocky Brown to defeat the Sharpes and win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
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In 1957, Leo Nomellini, again teaming with Torres, defeated Lord James Blears and Ben Sharpe for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
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Also Leo Nomellini wrestled in Hawaii where he feuded with Gene Kiniski.
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Leo Nomellini would leave NWA San Francisco to head to Minnesota to work for Verne Gagne and the NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club.
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On May 15,1958, Leo Nomellini, teaming with Verne Gagne defeated Mike and Doc Gallagher for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
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Leo Nomellini won his final professional wrestling championship on May 23,1961, when he and Wilbur Snyder defeated Gene Kiniski and Hard Boiled Haggerty for the AWA World Tag Team Championship.
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Leo Nomellini died on October 17,2000, after suffering a stroke.
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Leo Nomellini was named to the NFL's all-time team as a defensive tackle.