| Personal information | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | January 28, 1915 Fargo, North Dakota | ||||||
| Died: | June 18, 1982 (aged 67) Detroit Lakes, Minnesota | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College: | North Dakota State | ||||||
| Position: | Defensive back–Tailback | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1939 / Round: 5 / Pick: 32 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Ernest Martin Wheeler (January 28, 1915 – June 18, 1982)[1] was an American football defensive back and tailback who played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1939 and 1942.[2]
Wheeler played college football at North Dakota State University from 1936 to 1938, and was named to the All-North Central Conference team each year as a running back. In college, he also played basketball and participated in track events.[3] In the 1939 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose Wheeler with the 32nd overall pick, during round five.[4] Wheeler played in five games for the Pirates, posting 8 rushing yards in 15 attempts. He also delivered a punt of 75 yards, the second-longest in the NFL that year. Later in 1939, Wheeler played in two games for the Chicago Cardinals, rushing the ball twice for a net loss of eight yards. He did not play again in the NFL until 1942, when he played in three games for the Cardinals.[2] Wheeler was part of the inaugural class inducted into North Dakota State's Bison Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972.[5]