Dan Fortmann
Encyclopedia
Dr. Daniel John Fortmann (April 11, 1916 – May 23, 1995) was a professional American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
for the Chicago Bears
. He played college football
at Colgate University
and was drafted
in the ninth round of the 1936 NFL Draft
. According to legend, Bears' owner George Halas
, reportedly drafted Fortmann because his name had a good, solid football ring to it.
Uncertain as to whether to go to medical school or play football, Halas convinced Fortmann that he could do both. Dan enrolled at the University of Chicago
, where he obtained his degree in 1940. He interned in Detroit and completed his surgical training in Pittsburgh. He then set up as a surgeon in Burbank, California
, where he became the team physician
for the Los Angeles Rams
from 1947-1963.
Fortmann was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1965. He was selected as an All-Pro guard for six consecutive years.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
and was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the ninth round of the 1936 NFL Draft
1936 NFL Draft
The 1936 National Football League Draft was the first draft of the National Football League. It took place on February 8, 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has taken place every year since. The draft was instituted in an effort to equalize strength amongst the...
. According to legend, Bears' owner George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, reportedly drafted Fortmann because his name had a good, solid football ring to it.
Uncertain as to whether to go to medical school or play football, Halas convinced Fortmann that he could do both. Dan enrolled at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he obtained his degree in 1940. He interned in Detroit and completed his surgical training in Pittsburgh. He then set up as a surgeon in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, where he became the team physician
Team physician
The team physician for a sports team is the physician who is in charge of coordinating the medical staff and medical services for a sports team. They are also subject to activities involving team building...
for the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
from 1947-1963.
Fortmann was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1965. He was selected as an All-Pro guard for six consecutive years.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member - Dan Fortmann
- New York Times Obit