Mel Hein

Melvin Jack Hein (August 22, 1909 – January 31, 1992), nicknamed "Old Indestructible," was an American professional football player who played center, a one-platoon position on both offense and defense. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars from 1928 to 1930, leading the undefeated 1930 team to the 1931 Rose Bowl and earning first-team All-Pacific Coast and All-American honors. Hein then played fifteen seasons in the NFL for the New York Giants from 1931 to 1945. He was selected first-team All-Pro for eight consecutive years from 1933 to 1940 and won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1938. He was the starting center on the Giants' NFL championship teams in 1934 and 1938 and played in seven NFL championship games, in 1933 through 1935, 1938, 1939, 1941, and 1944. While still active as a player, he also served as the head football coach at Union College from 1943 to 1946. Hein was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 as part of its first class of inductees. He was later named to the National Football League's 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.