14 Facts About Rube Ursella

Reuben John Ursella was a professional football player-coach who played during the early years of the National Football League.

Outside of the NFL, Rube Ursella played for the Hibbing All-Stars in 1922 and 1923 and Tollefson's All-Stars in 1923, and in January 1926, he played exhibition games with Jim Thorpe and his independent team, the Tampa Cardinals.

When he returned home, Rube Ursella chose to coach and play for Rock Island and he led the team to a self-proclaimed national championship in 1919.

Rube Ursella stayed to coach and play again in 1920 when the Independents joined the American Professional Football Association, later renamed the National Football League.

In 1921, Rube Ursella returned to the Marines to play during the team's inaugural season in the National Football League.

Rube Ursella then traveled north to play for the Hibbing All-Stars in 1922 and 1923 and he played for the Tollefson's All-Stars exhibition team in 1923.

Rube Ursella then returned to Rock Island to play the 1924 and 1925 seasons in the NFL.

When Rock Island joined the American Football League in 1926, Rube Ursella chose instead to play for the Akron Indians and for one game with the Hammond Pros.

Rube Ursella holds the distinction of having played in the final game for three separate NFL franchises, for the Rock Island Independents in 1925 and for the Hammond Pros and Akron Indians in 1926.

In January 1926, Rube Ursella joined the Tampa Cardinals a team put together by Jim Thorpe for the purpose of playing exhibition games in Florida.

In 1927 and 1928, Rube Ursella played with the Minneapolis Marines exhibition team against NFL opponents.

Rube Ursella was the leading scorer for the 1912,1913, and 1917 Marines and for the 1919 Rock Island Independents.

Rube Ursella scored at least 101 points on 12 touchdowns, either through the air or on the ground, plus five field goals and 14 extra points with the Minneapolis Marines in 1913.

Reuben Rube Ursella pitched for the Superior Red Sox in the Central International League, the Virginia Ore Diggers and Grand Forks Flickertails in the Northern League, pitched in spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association, and pitched for the Butte, Montana, Amalgamated Copper Mining Company in the Mines League.