George Barna

George J. Barna (March 23, 1908 – November 24, 1972) was an American football and lacrosse player. He played college football and lacrosse at Hobart College and professional football in the National Football League for the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1929.

Early life and college Barna was born in 1908 in Clifton, New Jersey. At the end of the 1927 season, he was selected as captain of Hobart's 1928 team. He was also named to the Syracuse all-opponent team. Hobart's trainer remembered him as "the best defensive player I ever saw" and one who played without a helmet or padding of any kind. His wife later recalled that Barna received $35 a game "for just playing the game he loved." He taught for one-and-a-half years at East Rochester High School and approximately 34 years at Kenmore High School. He died in November 1972 at age 64. His body was discovered in the woods where he had been hunting deer. It was believed that Barna suffered a heart attack.