Bill Bergey came to the Cincinnati Bengals from Arkansas State, where, as a rookie, the linebacker went to the Pro Bowl.  Bergey didn't make the Pro Bowl again as a Bengal, but he was undoubtedly a strong player Cincinnati coveted until they grew upset with him.

Bergey signed a "futures contract" with the Florida Blazers of the World Football League, which would have taken effect in 1976.  The Bengals opted to trade him instead of keeping someone who would be gone in two years, and he went to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he continued his career.  Because the WFL didn’t last long and the Blazers didn't exist in ’76, the Eagles came out way ahead in this trade.  This turn of events had to irk the Bengals to no end, as in 1974 and 1975, he was named a First Team All-Pro, was an elite tackler (he would have a 233 Tackle season), and when his contract was up, he resigned with the Eagles.  Bergey would go on to have three straight Second Team All-Pro selections (1976-78) and would help the Eagles reach Super Bowl XV.  He would also go to four more Pro Bowls with Philadelphia.

Coming to the NFL as the 6^th Overall Pick in 1939, Bill Osmanski was a star at Holy Cross when that school was at its peak.  The Fullback had one of the best starts of anyone at his position, as the Chicago Bears led the NFL in Rushing Yards with 699, and in the 1940 NFL Championship, he rushed for 100 Yards in their 73-0 rout over the Washington Redskins.  Osmanski never had a year like that again, but he remained an integral part of the Bears and was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first three seasons.

In addition to that 1940 Championship, Osmanski helped the Bears with the 1941 and 1943 NFL titles.  Like many Americans in the NFL, he joined the military and missed years in the NFL due to World War II.  He returned for two more seasons (1946 & 1947), with 1946 bringing his fourth NFL Championship.

Osmanski would be chosen for the 1940’s All-Decade Team.

Nicknamed the "Mad Bomber," Daryle Lamonica signed with the Buffalo Bills of the AFL, where he saw limited playing time at Quarterback playing behind Jack Kemp.  He did get to play, however, and was a part of the Bills' 1964 and 1965 AFL Championships.  Lamonica was traded to the Oakland Raiders, and he was finally the starting QB and had the chance to show what he could do, which, as it turned out, would be a lot!

Lamonica ran the Raiders offense, and in his first year there, he led the AFL in Touchdown Passes (30), won the AP and UFI MVP, and led Oakland to its first AFL Championship.  1969 was another phenomenal season for Lamonica, as he would win the UPI MVP again while again leading the AFL in Touchdown Passes (34).  He also would throw for a league-leading 3,302 Yards.  Lamonica remained with the Raiders until 1974 and finished his career with a year in the World Football League.

Alan Ameche won the Heisman Trophy in 1954, and the Wisconsin Badgers star went 3^rd overall in the Draft.   Chosen by the Baltimore Colts, he would win the NFL Rookie of the Year, leading the league in Rushing Yards, Rushing Touchdowns, and Yards from Scrimmage.  This was Ameche's best statistical year, but he became an offensive fixture on an excellent Colts team that won the NFL Championship in 1958 and 1959.  It was in the former title that Ameche cemented his legacy, as in that game (which has been dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played”), the Running Back scored two Touchdowns, including the game-winning one that would beat the New York Giants.  That alone makes Alan Ameche an iconic figure in Pro football lore.

Ameche was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection (1955-58) and was chosen for the 1950’s All-Decade Team.