Conzelman, "Jimmy" (James G.)
Football
b. March 6, 1898, St. Louis, MO
d. July 31, 1970
After playing quarterback at Washington University in St. Louis, Conzelman was a teammate of George Halas with the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team. When Halas organized the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) in 1920, he hired Conzelman.
After one season with Decatur, Conzelman went to the Rock Island Independents in 1921 and became player-coach during the 1922 season. He also served as player-coach of the Milwaukee Badgers from 1923 through 1924; the Detroit Panthers from 1925 through 1926; and the Providence Steamroller from 1927 through 1929. Providence won the 1928 NFL championship.
Conzelman left football temporarily in 1930 but returned to coach at his alma mater from 1934 through 1939, compiling a 32-16-2 record. He became coach of the NFL's Chicago Cardinals in 1940, left after three disappointing seasons to join baseball's St. Louis Browns as an executive, then returned to the Cardinals for a second stint in 1946.
The team improved from a 1-9 mark in 1945 to 6-5 in his first season and won the NFL championship in 1947. The Cardinals were again division champions in 1948 but lost 7-0 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the title game.
Conzelman retired after that season with an overall professional record of 82 wins, 69 losses, and 14 ties.