{{Short description|American football player (1916–1981)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Monte Merkel | image = | number = 13 | position = Guard | birth_date = {{birth date|1916|11|6}} | birth_place = Keystone, Iowa, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1981|7|22|1916|11|6}} | death_place = Missoula, Montana, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lbs = 215 | high_school = St. John's Military<br>(Delafield, Wisconsin) | college = Kansas (1938–1941) | undraftedyear = 1942 | pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1942|1943}}) * → Wichita Aero Commandos (1942) * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1946}})* | highlights = | pfr = M/MerkMo20 }} '''Monte John Merkel''' (November 6, 1916 – July 22, 1981) was an American professional football guard who played one season with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Kansas.
==Early life and college== Monte John Merkel was born on November 6, 1916, in Keystone, Iowa.<ref name="Pfa">{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/m/merk00400.html | title=Monte Merkel | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=13 April 2025}}</ref> He attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin.<ref name="Pfa"/>
Merkel was a four-year letterman for the Kansas Jayhawks of the University of Kansas from 1938 to 1941.<ref name="Pfa"/>
==Professional career== After going undrafted in the 1942 NFL draft, Merkel signed with the Chicago Bears on August 1, 1942.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times/170204011/ | title=Chicago Bears Sign 3 Players For 1942 Season | work=Quad-City Times | date=August 2, 1942 | agency=United Press | accessdate=13 April 2025}}</ref> During the 1942 season, he played for the Bears' farm team, the Wichita Aero Commandos.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star/170204091/ | title=Monte Merkel A Grid Pro | work=The Kansas City Star | date=September 2, 1942 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=13 April 2025 | pages=20}}</ref> Merkel played in, and started, one game for the Bears in 1943.<ref name="Pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MerkMo20.htm | title=Monte Merkel | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=13 April 2025}}</ref> On September 29, 1943, he received orders to report to the United States Navy for training.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard/170204136/ | title=Navy Calls Gridder | work=The Montana Standard | date=September 30, 1943 | agency=United Press | accessdate=13 April 2025 | pages=7}}</ref> After his stint in the Navy ended, Merkel signed with the Bears again on March 29, 1946.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/170204266/ | title=Monte Merkel Signs With Chicago Bears | work=Green Bay Press-Gazette | date=March 29, 1946 | agency=Associated Press | accessdate=13 April 2025 | pages=12}}</ref> However, he did not end up playing in any games for the Bears that season.<ref name="Pfr"/>
==Personal life== Merkel died on July 22, 1981, in Missoula, Montana.<ref name="Pfr"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merkel, Monte}} Category:1916 births Category:1981 deaths Category:Players of American football from Iowa Category:American football guards Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:People from Benton County, Iowa Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II Category:20th-century American sportsmen