Frank David Minini (December 23, 1921 – November 12, 2005) was an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

halfback who played three seasons in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) with the

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

and

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

. He was selected by the Bears in the third round of the

1947 NFL draft The 1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946, at the Commodore Hotel in New York City, New York. The National Football League in this draft made the first overall pick, a bonus pick determined by lottery. The Chicago Bears won the first lo ...

after playing

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

San Jose State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the List of oldest schools in California, oldest public university on the West Coast of ...

Early life and college

Frank David Minini was born on December 23, 1921, in

Paso Robles, California Paso Robles ( ), officially El Paso de Robles (Spanish for The Pass of Oaks), is a city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Salinas River about north of San Luis Obispo, the city is known for its hot springs, ...

. He attended

Paso Robles High School Paso Robles High School (PRHS) is the only comprehensive high school located in the city of Paso Robles, California. The school receives its students from Lewis Flamson Junior High School, located in Paso Robles, as well as from the Lillian Larse ...

in Paso Robles. Minini was a

letterman Letterman may refer to: * Letterman (sports), a classification of high school or college athlete in the United States People * David Letterman (born 1947), American television talk show host ** ''Late Night with David Letterman'', talk show that ...

for the

San Jose State Spartans The San Jose State Spartans are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San José State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Mountain West Conference at the NCAA Division I level, with football competing in the Football Bowl S ...

in 1941. He then served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After the war, he lettered for the Spartans in 1946.

Professional career

Minini was selected by the

in the third round, with the 23rd overall pick, of the

. He played in all 12 games, starting nine, for the Bears during the 1947 season, recording 26 rushing attempts for 132 yards and two touchdowns, two catches for 23 yards, 11 kick returns for 261 yards, three fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception. The Bears finished the year with an 8–4, good for second place in the Western Division. Minini appeared in all 12 games again in 1948, starting three, totaling 24 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns, one reception 14 yards and a touchdown, 12 kick returns for 370 yards and one touchdown, two fumbles and one fumble recovery that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown. The Bears went 10–2 that year, finishing second place in the Western Division for the second straight season. On September 23, 1949, it was reported that Minini had been traded to the

for a 1950 draft pick. He played in all 12 games, starting seven, for the Steelers during the 1949 season, accumulating one carry for five yards, 16 kick returns for 390 yards, and one fumble. The Steelers finished with a 6–5–1 record, good for second in the Eastern Division. He became a free agent after the season.

Personal life

Minini died on November 12, 2005.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minini, Frank American football halfbacks American football return specialists Players of American football from San Luis Obispo County, California 1921 births 2005 deaths Sportspeople from Paso Robles, California San Jose State Spartans football players Chicago Bears players Pittsburgh Steelers players United States Army personnel of World War II