John Joseph Durko (July 23, 1914 – January 1, 1963) was an American football end and

tackle Tackle may refer to: * In football: ** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football ** Tackle (gridiron football position), a position in American football and Canadian football ** Dump tackle, a forceful move in rugby of picking ...

. Durko was born in 1914 in

Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania Mahanoy City (pronounced MAHA-noy, also MA-noy locally) is a borough located southwest of Wilkes-Barre and 13 miles southwest of Hazleton, in northern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Coal Region of Pennsylvania and is located ...

, and graduated from Mahonoy City High School. After high school, he worked in the local coal mines for several years. He received an athletic scholarship to Albright College where he completed in football, basketball, and track. He was captain of the basketball team and set records in the shot put and discus. He played for Albright's football team in 1942 and 1943. Durko played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) in 1942 and the Chicago Cardinals in 1943. He appeared in seven NFL games. He also played for the

Bethlehem Bulldogs The Bethlehem Bulldogs was a professional American football team, based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, that played in the American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active ...

of the American Football League from 1946 to 1948. After his football career ended, Durko worked in sales for Curtis Industries in Cleveland. He also officiated football games. He died in 1963 at age 48 in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Durko, John 1914 births 1963 deaths Philadelphia Eagles players Chicago Cardinals players American football ends People from Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania Players of American football from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania