Former Chicago Cardinal dies at 82

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Gordon Polofsky, who played three seasons in the NFL and was a linebacker and fullback on Tennessee’s 1951 national championship team, has died. He was 82.

Polofsky’s wife, Charlotte Polofsky, said her husband died early Monday morning at his Knoxville home. Tennessee’s sports information department also sent out a release Monday confirming Polofsky’s death.

Polofsky lettered at Tennessee from 1949-51. Tennessee had a combined 28-4-1 record in those three seasons. The Volunteers went 11-1, won the Cotton Bowl and finished fourth in The Associated Press poll in 1950. The 1951 team went 10-1 and won the national championship. Polofsky earned second-team all-Southeastern Conference honors in 1951.

The Los Angeles Rams drafted Polofsky in the fifth round in 1952. Polofsky played for the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals from 1952-54.