Joseph Yackanich (March 31, 1922 – August 1, 1969) was an American football guard who played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He played college football at Fordham.

Joe Yackanich
Personal information
Born:(1922-03-31)March 31, 1922
Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:August 1, 1969(1969-08-01) (aged 47)
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Hazleton
College:Fordham
Position:Guard
NFL draft:1944 / round: 20 / pick: 207
(by the Cleveland Rams)[1]
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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Yackanich was a starter for the Rams at guard in 1941 and at tackle in 1942. He started in the team's 1942 Sugar Bowl victory over Missouri. He left Fordham after his junior year to enlist in the US Army during WWII. Yackanich fought in the European Theater with the 63rd Infantry Division.[2]

Professional career

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Yackanich was selected by the Cleveland Rams in the 20th round of the 1944 NFL draft while he was still in the Army. Yackanich left the Yankees during the 1948 season to finish his degree at Fordham.[2] He played in 26 games over three seasons with the Yankees.[3] After graduating he was hired by the Rams to coach the freshman football team and later became and offensive line coach for the Rams.[4]

Post-football

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Yackanich left his coaching position in 1950 to become an FBI agent.[5] He died on August 1, 1969.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "1944 Cleveland Rams". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b Curran, Ned (October 14, 1949). "Vets of Sugar Bowl Team Return to Coach Frosh". The Fordham Ram. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Joe Yackanich Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  4. ^ "TWO JOIN FORDHAM STAFF". The New York Times. March 6, 1949. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "Sabasteanski to Aid Fordham". The New York Times. April 6, 1951. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Yackanich, Joseph obit". Standard-Speaker. Newspapers.com. August 2, 1969. Retrieved May 26, 2020.