Ed Kolman

Ed Kolman

No. 29, 72
Position	Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born	(1915-10-21)October 21, 1915 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	July 31, 1985(1985-07-31) (aged 69) New Hyde Park, New York, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school	Boys (Brooklyn) Stuyvesant (New York, New York)
College	Temple (1936-1939)
NFL draft	1940: 5th round, 37th overall pick
Career history
Playing
Chicago Bears (1940–1942, 1946–1947) New York Giants (1949)
Coaching
New York Giants (1950–1966) Line coach Westchester Bulls (1967-1968) Co-head coach Long Island Bulls (1969) Co-head coach
Awards and highlights
3× NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1946) Second-team All-Pro (1942) 3× Pro Bowl (1940-1942)
Career NFL statistics
Games played 66 Games started 33 Fumble recoveries 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Edward Victor Kolman (October 21, 1915 – July 31, 1985) was an American professional football player who played offensive tackle for 6 seasons with the Chicago Bears and New York Giants. He was selected with the 37th pick in the 5th round of the 1940 NFL draft. Kolman had a strong start to his professional playing career, but it was interrupted by a combination of injuries & wartime efforts. He is best known for his key contributions during the Chicago Bears ‘Wonder Years’ & the New York Giants ‘Golden Years’, between 1945—1965.

Prior to his playing career, Ed was a lifeguard within his local community. During the winter, he played the violin around New York City for extra money. Once his father passed away, Ed was launched into the role of full-time provider at 17 years old. Since he was still a high-school student at the time of his father’s death, his financial circumstances influenced him to play football for the scholarship opportunities. Within 1 year of playing organized football, Ed earned 10 Division 1 Scholarship offers.

In 1935, Kolman committed to Temple University. At the time, Temple was led by legendary Head Coach Glen ‘Pop’ Warner. While at Temple, Kolman lettered 3 of the 4 years. In 1935, there was an NCAA rule that prevented true freshmen from playing varsity games. Ed sat out his freshman year, but watched the Owls team reach the Inaugural 1935 Sugar Bowl versus Tulane University. The Owls lost to Tulane 20-14. Ed earned the starting job his sophomore year. Between 1936-1939, Kolman was a 3-time, 1st Team All-American. By 1939, he captained the Temple Football Team. After his collegiate playing career, Ed was inducted into both the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame & the NCAA Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

After graduating in 1939, Ed was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 37th pick in the 5th round of the 1940 NFL Draft. In 1940, the Bears were coached by NFL legend, George Stanley Halas Sr. As a rookie, Kolman helped Halas’s Chicago Bears win a National Championship. Due to his on-field contributions during their championship season, Ed was voted 1st Team All-Pro as a rookie. The Bears were 8-3-0, beating the Washington Redskins 73-0 in the 1940 National Championship.

In 1940-1941, Kolman embarked on his second season. Kolman produced the exact same performance a 2nd time in a row — earning back-to-back 1st Team All-Pro accolades & winning back-to-back National Championships. The Bears finished the season 10-1-0, beating the New York Giants 37-9 in the 1941 National Championship.

In 1941-1942, Kolman began his 3rd season with The Bears. In his 3rd straight season, Kolman earned 1st Team All-Pro accolades. The ‘Monsters of The Midway’ finished with a perfect 11-0 regular record. However, Kolman’s perfect streak was crushed when the Chicago Bears lost to the Washington Redskins 14-6 in the 1942 National Championship. In just 3 years of professional play, Kolman amassed 3 1st Team All-Pro selections, 3 National Championship appearances, & 2 National Championships.

In 1942-1943, Kolman started his 4th season in the NFL. Halfway through the season, Kolman’s career was interrupted by World War II. For the next 4 years, he served in the Pacific War as a submariner, from 1942 — 1946. Kolman played in 8 regular season games during the 1942 NFL season before being deployed to the Pacific theater. Because of his fragmented regular season appearances in 1942, Ed only earned 2nd Team All-Pro accolades. That season, The Bears achieved an 8-1-1 regular season record. They beat the Washington Redskins 41-21 in the 1942 National Championship. Ed did not participate in what would have been his fourth National Championship appearance & 3rd Championship because of WWII.

Once Kolman returned in 1946, it was hard for him to readjust back to his old playing career. From 1946-1947, Kolman played 1 more season with the Chicago Bears. During his final stretch with the Bears, he led them to an 8-2-1 regular season record. In the postseason, Kolman helped the Bears win the 1946 National Championship, beating the New York Giants 24-14.

After his 4th National Championship, Kolman requested a trade to the New York Giants. He wanted to be closer to home. Once Ed joined the Giants, he played for 1 season before retiring as player. Following Kolman’s career, he was inducted into the Chicago Bears Hall of Fame.

After Kolman’s retirement from the NFL, he pursued an NFL coaching career. Kolman helped coach the New York Giants from 1950-1966 during their ‘Golden Era’. With the Giants, he coached them to 2 National Championships, winning 1. He served as their offensive line coach & draft scout. Ed started his coaching career alongside Vince Lombardi. Once Lombardi left for Green Bay, he offered Ed the Offensive Coordinator role, but he turned it down to stay on the East Coast. Ed spent his entire coaching career with the New York Giants. He helped them reach 2 National Championships, winning 1. As an NFL coach, Ed amassed a 98-60-8 record.

Following his professional coaching career, Ed pursued a head coaching job with the New York Bulls of the ACFL. At the time, the ACFL was a budding minor league organization similar to the CFL & XFL. As a head coach in the ACFL, Ed earned himself a 20-15 record across 2 seasons.

While coaching, Ed settled down in New Hyde Park, New York with his wife, Adele. Ed had 2 children - Richard & Eddie Kolman.

Ed’s son, Richard ‘Rick’ Kolman, briefly played basketball at Villanova University. Ed’s grandson, William ‘Will’ Kolman, followed his footsteps & signed his 2019 National Letter of Intent with The Colgate Raiders — #8 in the 2019 FCS D1-AA national polls. Will was an All-Central New England & MassPreps All-State Inside Linebacker for Deerfield Academy. As a sophomore, Kolman started at Rush Edge / Outside Linebacker for The Brunswick School, helping them reach their 9th New England Championship in 2016-2017. The 2017 Brunswick Football Team finished #3 in Connecticut. Will transferred to Deerfield Academy, where he became a key factor in reviving their football program. By 2017-2018, Will led Deerfield to their 2nd New England Championship in school history. The 2018 Deerfield Academy Football Team finished #2 in Massachusetts. Following Kolman’s tenure, Deerfield went on to win 3 more New England Championships in 2019, 2021, & 2023. Today, Deerfield remains an On3-Massey Top 20 team in Massachusetts.

External links

• "Edward V. Kolman, 67, Dies; Played for the Chicago Bears". The New York Times. August 5, 1985. Retrieved March 12, 2010.