Chuck Ortmann

Charles H. Ortmann (June 1, 1929 – March 7, 2018) was an American professional football player who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1948 to 1950 and in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951 and the Dallas Texans in 1952.

University of Michigan Ortmann was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He turned down offers from the University of Wisconsin and nearby Marquette University, as well as coach Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky, to attend the University of Michigan and play football for Fritz Crisler. Ortmann recalled: "My high school coach would say, 'Chuck, if you pick Michigan, you're picking the best. After you graduate, people will know you and remember you.' I made the right decision." As a senior in 1950, he was responsible for 90% of Michigan's total offense. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame on December 31, 2009.

The Snow Bowl Ortmann is most known for his role in the famed 1950 Snow Bowl game against Ohio State, in which he punted 24 times in a blizzard for 723 yards – still a Michigan record. The weather conditions were so inclement that Michigan punted on first down for its first two plays from scrimmage, after concluding that the best strategy was to keep the slick ball on the other side of the field and in the hands of Ohio State. The strategy worked, as the game's only touchdown was scored after Ortman punted the ball out of bounds at the Ohio State six-yard line, Ohio State was forced to punt from deep in its own territory, and Tony Momsen recovered a blocked punt in the endzone.

Other highlights

Other highlights of Ortmann's playing career at Michigan include: Passing for 146 yards (15 for 19) in a 14–6 win over California, including six passes for 80 yards in the fourth quarter to lead Michigan's comeback from a 6–0 deficit, at the 1951 Rose Bowl game; Rushing for 115 yards and passing for another 92 (207 total yards) in a 14–7 win over Minnesota in the 1949 Little Brown Jug game; He was named an All-Big Ten halfback in 1950 and was also third-team All-American.

Professional football Ortmann was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 20th pick in the 1951 NFL draft and played in all 12 of the Steelers' games in 1951. He was the Steelers' leading passer in 1951, throwing 56 completions for 671 yards, three touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also had 327 yards rushing, 62 yards receiving, and 62 yards on an interception return. Ortmann was also the Steelers' backup punter, kicking seven times for a 43.1 yard average, including a 72-yard punt.

Later years, family and honors After his football career ended, Ortmann accepted a job with a Chicago nonferrous metals company owned by former Michigan All-American Ernie Vick. Ortmann retired in 1991 and moved to Savannah, Georgia. Asked about the honor, Ortmann modestly said: "When fans start talking about putting an all-time Michigan team together, I think they're wrong to pick someone from the old era. I led the Big Ten one year with 750 yards running and passing. A guy like John Navarre has as many yards and passes in a game as I did in a season. Guys I played with were as good as they come, but nothing like the players today. Dominic Tomasi was a lineman at 5-8 and 180 pounds. They have cheerleaders that big today."