remember reading his article about ND's John Vainisi
by olson (2019-03-08 09:38:59)
Edited on 2019-03-13 10:11:56

In reply to: Bonus note for olson regarding Cliff Christl, who was  posted by G.K.Chesterton

Post Reply Return to Cartier Field

though I linked a different article below...can't find Christi's

The Packers put up a statue to honor ND's John Vainisi awhile back.

It was Vainisi who drafted all the great Packer players in the 1950s that Lombardi had on his '60s Championship teams...Vainisi also (without any authorization to do so) was the first to contact NY Giants assistant Lombardi about becoming Green Bay head coach.

John Vainisi was a HS football star (tackle) at Chicago St George...he was recruited to ND by Interim Irish HC Hugh Devore in the 1945 recruiting class.

Vainisi was drafted off the ND campus & assigned overseas...where he contracted Rheumatic fever...he was discharged and returned to ND to get his degree...but his football playing days were over.

Vainisi got a job with the Packers after graduation-the linked article tells the rest......Vainisi died young (age 33)-never seeing Lombardi's great success with all of the players that he had scouted & drafted.....Vainisi's younger brother was later the GM of the Super Bowl champ Chicago Bears.






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