Nick Pietrosante

Nicholas Vincent Pietrosante (September 10, 1937 – February 6, 1988) was an American professional football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1959, and a Pro Bowler in 1960 and 1961. Between 1959 and 1965, he set a Lions franchise record with 3,933 rushing yards. He played college football for Notre Dame and was named third-team All-American in 1958. Early years Pietrosante was born in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1937, and attended Notre Dame High School in West Haven, Connecticut. In his senior year at Notre Dame High School, he scored 23 touchdowns in nine games, became the school's first all-state athlete in any sport, and led the 1954 football team to an undefeated season, outscoring opponents 332–12. Notre Dame Pietrosante attended the University of Notre Dame where he played football as a fullback for the Fighting Irish football team from 1956 to 1958. As a junior in 1957, he recovered a fumble, delivered a key block on Notre Dame's touchdown, and was the leading rusher in a 7–0 victory that broke Oklahoma's record 47-game winning streak. For the 1957 season, he rushed for 449 yards on 90 carries and was selected by the United Press as a third-team All-American. As a senior in 1958, he rushed for 556 yards on 117 carries and was selected by the American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association of America as the first-team fullback on the 1958 College Football All-America Team. Professional football Pietrosante was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round, sixth overall pick, of the 1959 NFL Draft. As a rookie in 1959, he rushed for 134 yards against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day, the best rushing total recorded by a Lion since Bob Hoernschemeyer rushed for 198 yards in 1950. After the game, Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi said, "That boy shall be a great one some day. He is very tough to bring down." He also led the NFL with an average of 5.9 rushing yards per carry and won the 1959 National Football League Rookie of the Year Award.