Nate Borden
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Borden was a professional American football
defensive end
in the National Football League
and the American Football League
.
, New Jersey
where he played high school football
at Lincoln High School. He then received a scholarship to play college football
at Indiana University
, where he became an All-America
n.
in the 1955 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers
under Coach Lisle Blackbourn
. He played with the Packers from 1955
-1959
. During this early period, Borden was one of the only black players on the Packers along with Frank Purnell
who played in 1957. When he could not find housing within the city limits, he had to room at a rundown motel just outside of Green Bay. A number of Packers were also staying at the motel. They told the manager he would lose their business if Borden could not room there. Quarterback Bart Starr
befriended Borden and frequently had him and his family at Starr's home for dinner. Joining the team a few years later, Emlen Tunnell
described the Borden residence as "a place where you wouldn't keep your dog." When Vince Lombardi
became the Packers coach, he helped Borden find a decent place to live. Due to a knee injury, he was put on waivers by the Packers and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys
in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
. He played with the Cowboys until 1962. After the Cowboys, he played one year with the AFL
's Buffalo Bills
in 1963.
After he retired from playing football, Borden scouted with the Atlanta Falcons
for the next twelve years. The Falcons first season was 1966 and was led by former Green Bay Packer coach Norb Hecker. Hecker was fired after two and a half seasons.
, where he was assistant to the mayor, Russ Dorn. He was also the Officer of Urban Development in the city of Las Vegas.
Borden died of cancer
in Las Vegas on September 30, 1992. He left behind two sons and a daughter.
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...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
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...
and the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
.
Early life
Borden moved to Jersey CityJersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
where he played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Lincoln High School. He then received a scholarship to play 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 Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, where he became an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n.
Professional career
Borden was draftedNFL 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 1955 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
under Coach Lisle Blackbourn
Lisle Blackbourn
Lisle "Liz" Blackbourn was an American football coach who was the third head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He coached the Packers from 1954 to 1957....
. He played with the Packers from 1955
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
-1959
1959 NFL season
The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play...
. During this early period, Borden was one of the only black players on the Packers along with Frank Purnell
Frank Purnell
Frank Purnell is a former fullback in the National Football League. He played with the Green Bay Packers during the 1957 NFL season.-References:...
who played in 1957. When he could not find housing within the city limits, he had to room at a rundown motel just outside of Green Bay. A number of Packers were also staying at the motel. They told the manager he would lose their business if Borden could not room there. Quarterback Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
befriended Borden and frequently had him and his family at Starr's home for dinner. Joining the team a few years later, Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Lewis Tunnell was an American football player. He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants, and was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He played in the National Football League for the Giants and Green Bay Packers...
described the Borden residence as "a place where you wouldn't keep your dog." When Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
became the Packers coach, he helped Borden find a decent place to live. Due to a knee injury, he was put on waivers by the Packers and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft
1960 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1960 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Dallas Cowboys, selected its first players. The NFL awarded Dallas, Texas a franchise to compete for revenue with Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans of the upstart American Football League...
. He played with the Cowboys until 1962. After the Cowboys, he played one year with the AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1963.
After he retired from playing football, Borden scouted with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the next twelve years. The Falcons first season was 1966 and was led by former Green Bay Packer coach Norb Hecker. Hecker was fired after two and a half seasons.
After football
After his scouting with the Falcons, Borden became the assistant to the mayor of Jersey City (Jim Sutcliffe was the mayor at that time.) After Sutcliffe lost a bid for re-election, Borden moved to Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, where he was assistant to the mayor, Russ Dorn. He was also the Officer of Urban Development in the city of Las Vegas.
Borden died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Las Vegas on September 30, 1992. He left behind two sons and a daughter.