Robert Arthur “Nasty” Nash (December 16, 1892 – February 1, 1977) was an Irish- American professional American football player who played in the American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League in 1922) for the

Akron Pros The Akron Pros were a professional football team that played in Akron, Ohio from 1908 to 1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, but later became Akron Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter mem ...

Buffalo All-Americans Buffalo, New York had a turbulent, early-era National Football League team that operated under multiple names and several different owners between the 1910s and 1920s. The early NFL-era franchise was variously called the Buffalo All-Stars from ...

, Rochester Jeffersons and the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

. Prior to joining the AFPA, Nash played professionally in the " Ohio League" for the Massillon Tigers. He was considered by sports historians as one of the greatest offensive tackles of his era. Nash was born in Ireland and raised in Bernardsville, New Jersey,Staff
"Robert Nash Dies at 84"
'' The New York Times'', February 2, 1977. Accessed July 11, 2018. "Born in Ireland, Mr. Nash spent his early years in Bernardsville, N. J." where he played high school football at Bernards High School.Bob Nash Stats
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed July 11, 2018. "High School: Bernards (NJ)" Prior to playing professional football, Nash played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at Cornell University and at Rutgers, where he received All-American honors in 1914. He was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 1988.

Professional career

On Sunday, October 10, 1920, Nash is credited with the first fumble recovery for a touchdown in a game featuring two league teams. On Sunday, October 24, 1920, Nash picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter and ran eight yards for the only score of the day as the Pros defeated the Cleveland Tigers, 7–0. On Sunday, October 31, 1920, according to Ike Roy Martin; on a punt return Jim Thorpe had instructed Martin to let Nash get by him. Thorpe had wanted to run into Nash, which he did. The collision resulted in them both being knocked out and they were carried off the field. Nash was also a part of the first APFA player deal, in

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...

, when Akron sold Nash to Buffalo for $300 and five percent of the gate receipts during a game between the two clubs. However, since Nash was a part of the Akron Pros during their championship season, he is credited as belonging on their championship team. Nash was also the very first captain of the New York Giants.

References

External links

1917 All-Pros

Ivy League Sports

Scarlet Knights in the Pros

Pioneer in Pro Football by Jack Cusack

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Bob 1892 births 1977 deaths American football ends American football tackles Akron Pros players Bernards High School alumni Buffalo All-Americans players Cornell Big Red football players Massillon Tigers coaches Massillon Tigers players New York Giants players Rochester Jeffersons players Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players People from Bernardsville, New Jersey People from Winsted, Connecticut Players of American football from New Jersey Sportspeople from Somerset County, New Jersey Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)