The United States entered the fighting in World War II in December 1941, just as the 1941 NFL season was drawing to a close. Mass enlistments and military conscription drew hundreds of players in the National Football League (NFL) to the colors, greatly impacting both team rosters and players' careers. Some players were able to continue to play football while in the military as part of the military service teams which proliferated as a focus for physical training and source of mass entertainment. Hundreds of NFL players had their playing careers interrupted or terminated by the conflict for months or years, losing seasons in their athletic prime.

This is a sortable list of players in the NFL who were active at their time of induction and who served in the American military at some point between 1940 and 1945. It includes their team at time of induction, position, branch of military service, year of enlistment, service details, and information on the military service teams on which they played during the war, if known.

Name Team Position Branch Induct Service notes Albrecht, Art Boston Yanks Tackle Army 1944Typo in original source has date as 1942. Dubzinski, Walter Boston Yanks Center Navy 1944 Falkenstein, Tony Boston Yanks Fullback Navy 1944 Goldman, Sam Boston Yanks End Army 1944 Harrison, Richard Boston Yanks End Army 1944 Riggs, Thron Boston Yanks Tackle Army 1944 Santora, Frank Boston Yanks Quarterback Army 1944 Walker, William B. Boston Yanks Guard Navy 1944 Alfson, Warren Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Navy 1941 Officer Bailey, E.L. Brooklyn Dodgers End Navy 1941 Officer Bushby, Sherill Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Army 1940 Cafego, George Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1940 Officer; medical discharge Cassiano, Dick Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1940 Coon, Edward Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Army 1941 Courtney, Gerald Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1942 Deremer, Arthur Brooklyn Dodgers Center Navy A.C. 1942 Officer Dougherty, George Brooklyn Dodgers Fullback Army A.C. 1940 Eliason, Don Brooklyn Dodgers End Army 1942 Fedora, Walter Brooklyn Dodgers Fullback Army 1942 Francis, Sam Brooklyn Dodgers Fullback Army 1940 Officer Frick, Ray Brooklyn Dodgers Center Army 1941 Fronzcek, Andrew Brooklyn Dodgers Tackle Army 1941 Gifford, Robert Brooklyn Dodgers Quarterback Army 1942 Gussle, Mike Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Army 1940 Officer Heineman, Ken Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Navy 1943 Hodges, Herman Brooklyn Dodgers End Marines 1942 Officer Jeffries, Robert Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Navy A.C. 1942 Jocher, Arthur Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Navy 1942 Johnson, Cecil Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1944 Jones, Lewis Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Navy 1944 Jones, Thurman Brooklyn Dodgers Quarterback Army 1941 Medical discharge Jurich, Michael Brooklyn Dodgers Tackle Army 1942 Kapitansky, Bernard Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Army 1942 Kercheval, Ralph Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1940 Officer Kinard, George Brooklyn Dodgers Guard Navy 1942 Kinard, Frank "Bruiser" Brooklyn Dodgers Tackle Navy 1944 Kish, Ben Brooklyn Dodgers Quarterback Army 1941 Medical discharge Koons, Joe Brooklyn Dodgers Center Army 1941 Koshlap, Jules Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback Army 1941 Kracum, George Brooklyn Dodgers Fullback Army 1941 Kristufek, Frank Brooklyn Dodgers Tackle Army 1941

See also

List of National Football League players who died in wars List of American football players who died during their careers

References