Merton Dunnigan

American football player (1894–1937)

American football player

Pat DunniganPersonal information

Born:| (1894-01-24)January 24, 1894
Bay City, Minnesota, United States
Died:| March 30, 1937(1937-03-30) (aged 43)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Height:| 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:| 206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College:| Minnesota
Position:| End, Guard, Tackle
Career history

* Green Bay Packers (1922)
* Minneapolis Marines (1924)
* Milwaukee Badgers (1925–1926)

Stats at Pro Football Reference

Merton Arthur Dunnigan (January 24, 1894 – March 30, 1937), sometimes known as "Mert" or "Pat", was an American football player. He played college football for Minnesota from 1913 to 1915 and professional football for the Green Bay Packers (1922), Minneapolis Marines (1924), and Milwaukee Badgers (1925–1926). He later served as an assistant football coach at Minnesota from 1932 to 1937.

## Early years

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Dunnigan was born in 1895 in Bay City, Michigan. He attended West High School in Minneapolis.[1]

## College athlete

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He played college football for the University of Minnesota from 1913 to 1915.[1][2] As a senior, he was selected by Walter Eckersall as a first-team guard on the 1915 All-America college football team.[3] He was also selected by Frank G. Menke as a second-team All-American.[4]

## Professional football

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He played professional football for Duluth (1917),[5] the Green Bay Packers (1922), Minneapolis Marines (1924), and Milwaukee Badgers (1925–1926). He appeared in 20 NFL games as an end tackle, and guard.[6]

## Coaching career

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Dunnigan served three different stints as an assistant coach at Minnesota, first under head coach Henry L. Williams from 1917 to 1919,[7][8] then under Clarence Spears in the 1920s,[9][10] and finally under Bernie Bierman in the 1930s.[11]

## Death

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Dunnigan died in his sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1937 at age 42.[11]

## See also

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* 1915 College Football All-America Team

## References

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1. ^ a b "Pat Dunnigan". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Gopher Guard in Grand Shape; Is Sure to Be Star This Year". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. September 23, 1915. p. 16 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Eck Puts Him On All-American". La Crosse Tribune. December 6, 1915.
4. ^ "Covers Wide Scope In Choosing His All-American Gridironers". The Washington Post. December 5, 1915.
5. ^ "Players Waiting for Whistle to Battle for Title: Duluth and Superior Elevens Set for Greatest Football Game of Season". Duluth News Tribune. November 18, 1917.
6. ^ "1926 Milwaukee Badgers Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
7. ^ "Van Nest Not to Return to Minnesota This Fall: Dunnigan Returns to Coach Linemen". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. September 28, 1917. p. 15 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Baston, Hauser, Dunnigan Suspended as Coaches". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. December 10, 1919. p. 20 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Merton Dunnigan Added to Gopher Coaching Staff". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. August 16, 1924. p. 23 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Mert Dunnigan Is Also Signed for Next Year". Minneapolis Daily Star. May 13, 1926. p. 11 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ a b "Mert Dunnigan, Minnesota Grid Player, Coach, Dies". The Minneapolis Star. March 30, 1937. p. 17 - via Newspapers.com.