Ernie Bonelli

Who was Ernie Bonelli?

Ernest Bernard Bonelli was an American football player for the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.

Bonelli won a football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where he played fullback and defensive back for coach Jock Sutherland. In 1941, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served as a radar operator on B-17 bombers. After World War II ended, he returned to Pitt and played in the 1945 College All-Star Game. He was signed by the Cardinals for the 1945 season, appearing in seven games as a running back, kick returner, and defensive back. He was traded to the Steelers for 1946, where he appeared in three games as a running back. He retired after the 1946 season and worked in medical sales in Pittsburgh.

Bonelli was selected to the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, the Fox Chapel Area Hall of Fame and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He died on October 12, 2009 at age 90.