Hal Erickson (American football)

Harold Ingvald Alexander Erickson (March 10, 1898 – January 27, 1963) was an American football back who played for three teams over eight seasons in the National Football League, four with the Chicago Cardinals, including the 1925 NFL Champion team.

Biography
Harold Erickson was born and raised in Maynard, Minnesota. He was born on March 10, 1898 to the Norweigian immigrant, the Reverend Michael Benjamin Eriksen (1867-1950) and his wife, first generation Norweigian-American Emma Gustava Eriksen (1879-1940), whose maiden name was Anderson. Though he would be known as "Swede" during his football playing days, he was in fact a full-blooded Norwegian-American. A stocky man, he stood 5' 9", and weighed 193 pounds. He served as a CPHM, or Chief Pharmacist's Mate in the US Navy during WWI. He participated in the 1919 Rose Bowl as a member of the winning team, Great Lakes Navy from Great Lakes, Illinois. A team that also included future Pro Football Hall of Famers George Halas and Paddy Driscoll, who are also members of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team.

After completing his service in the US Navy, he attended St. Olaf College, then Washington & Jefferson College where he excelled at football. After college, though undrafted, Erickson went professional, playing eight seasons in the National Football League (1923-1930), with the Milwaukee Badgers, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Minneapolis Red Jackets. In 1924 he played for, and was the headcoach of the Milwaukee Badgers, a team that included Pro Football Hall of Famer, and a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team, Jimmy Conzelman. During the 1925 season Erickson scored 6 touchdowns (4 receiving and 2 rushing) for the NFL Champion Chicago Cardinals who were 11-2-1 that year. At the conclusion of the 1925 NFL season, Erickson joined future Pro Football Hall of Famer Red Grange, and the Chicago Bears on their post-season barnstorming tour. He was a member of the 1928 Chicago Cardinals team that included American sports legend, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe, also a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team.

He was married to Vera Mattocks (1906-1998) until his death on January 27, 1963. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.