{{Short description|American football player (1921–1991)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Luke Higgins | number = 31 | position = Guard | birth_date = {{birth date|1921|5|3}} | birth_place = Edgewater, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1991|10|11|1921|5|3}} | death_place = Largo, Florida, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 210 | high_school = Cliffside Park<br>(Cliffside Park, New Jersey) | college = Notre Dame (1941–1942, 1946) | draftyear = 1945 | draftround = 23 | draftpick = 235 | pastteams = * Baltimore Colts (1947) | highlights = * National champion (1946) | statleague = AAFC | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 11 | pfr = H/HiggLu20 }}
'''Luke Martin Higgins''' (May 3, 1921 – October 11, 1991) was an American professional football guard who played one season with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He played college football at the University of Notre Dame.
==Early life== Luke Martin Higgins was born on May 3, 1921, in Edgewater, New Jersey.<ref name="pfr"/> He attended Cliffside Park High School in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/h/higg01200.html | title=Luke Higgins | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=10 April 2025}}</ref>
==College and military career== Higgins played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame from 1941 to 1942.<ref name="pfa"/> His football career was interrupted by a stint in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.<ref name="pfa"/> He was awarded a Purple Heart after being seriously wounded in Italy in 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/notre-dame/article/god-country-notre-dame-28796001/ |title=God, Country, Notre Dame |publisher=notredame.247sports.com |date=May 24, 2014 |access-date=October 4, 2015 |author=Somogyi, Lou |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004162220/http://notredame.247sports.com/Article/God-Country-Notre-Dame-28796001 |archive-date=October 4, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune/170018136/ | title=Jim Costin says: | work=The South Bend Tribune | date=November 14, 1944 | accessdate=10 April 2025 | pages=4}}</ref> Higgins returned to Notre Dame in 1946 and played for the football team that season.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oklahoma-courier/170018766/ | title=Notre Dame | work=The Oklahoma Courier | date=September 21, 1946 | accessdate=10 April 2025 | pages=4}}</ref> The 1946 Fighting Irish were AP Poll national champions. Higgins also participated in the shot put during his time at Notre Dame.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/170018672/ | title=Spartan Track Team Defeats Irish, 78 to 44 | work=Chicago Tribune | date=May 19, 1946 | accessdate=10 April 2025}}</ref>
==Professional career== Higgins was selected by the Cleveland Rams in the 23rd round, with the 235th overall pick, of the 1945 NFL draft.<ref name="pfr"/> He signed with the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1947.<ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/h/higg01200.html | title=Luke Higgins Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=10 April 2025}}</ref> He played in 11 games for the Colts during the 1947 season.<ref name="pfr"/>
==Personal life== Higgins died on October 11, 1991, in Largo, Florida.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HiggLu20.htm | title=Luke Higgins | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=10 April 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Cleveland Rams 1945 draft navbox}} {{1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, Luke}} Category:1921 births Category:1991 deaths Category:American football guards Category:Cliffside Park High School alumni Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players Category:Baltimore Colts (1947–1950) players Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II Category:People from Edgewater, New Jersey Category:Players of American football from Bergen County, New Jersey Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's track and field athletes Category:American men shot putters