Fred Negus

Frederick Wilson Negus (November 7, 1923 – April 18, 2005) was an American football player. He played college football for Wisconsin and Michigan and professional football in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL).

College career Negus was born in Colerain, Ohio and began his college football career with the University of Wisconsin. As Wisconsin's starting center in 1942, he was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference player by the Associated Press. Michigan's line coach, Biggie Munn, praised Negus's performance for Michigan: "Negus played a remarkably steady game for us this fall. Last year at Wisconsin he injured his shoulder and had to have an operation. Nine out of ten boys would have quit football at that stage, but Negus didn't."

Negus was one two players from the 1943 Michigan team (the other was Bill Daley) selected by the Associated Press as a first-team All-Big Ten player. He achieved the honor first at Wisconsin in 1942 and repeated the honor at Michigan in 1943.

Military After the 1943 season, Negus was placed on active duty and received his commission as a lieutenant. Negus returned to Wisconsin after completing his military service and was captain of Wisconsin's 1946 football team.

Professional career Negus also played four years of professional football for the Chicago Rockets/Hornets (1947–1949) and Chicago Bears (1950). He was among the AAFC league leaders in non-offensive touchdowns in both 1948 and 1949 and in interceptions in 1949.