Ed Hart

Bio

Edward J. Hart played four years at Princeton and was captain in 1910 and 1911, when the team had records of 7-1 and 8-0-2. He was All-America in 1911, and Grantland Rice called him "one of the greatest tackles of all time." Hart prepped at Phillips Exeter Academy and in his final game there suffered a dislocation in his neck when he ran into a goalpost. He wore a neck harness, made of steel and leather, his first three years at Princeton but discarded it in 1911. Hart worked in real estate and insurance in New York and later moved to Toronto, Canada. He had a distinguished military record, captain in the Army in World War I and major in the Marines in World War II. Hart's playing weight was 208 pounds, and there are many tales about his strength. He was one of 40,000 soldiers attending the Circue de Paris when the local strong man issued a challenge. He'd wrestle anybody in the crowd and guarantee to pin his man in 60 seconds. Hart came out of the crowd, faced the strong man, and pinned him. Another time he bet that none of three men from an Army football team could block him and knock him down, even if he stood on just one foot. He won the bet. Once a 195-pound pal yelled "Catch me, Eddie!" and leaped from a second-floor balcony at a Paris hotel. Hart caught him.

Career Highlights

• 1911 Consensus All-America