How Pro Football Helped Wisconsin Veterans Transition After WWII
Guest Contributor
In an era when today's professional football players command multi-million-dollar contracts, it's easy to forget that the sport once served a very different purpose. For veterans returning home after World War II, pro football wasn’t about fame or fortune—it was a way to pay the bills. The story of two Northland veterans, John Perko of Ely, Minnesota, and Alex Wizbicki of Superior, Wisconsin, offers a compelling look at how the game helped them transition from military service back into civilian life. Their journey is a reminder of how football once stood as a modest but meaningful stepping stone for those who had already given so much.
The article from Northern News Now paints a vivid picture of this era. During the manpower shortages of World War II, Perko and other Marine Corps recruits were called upon to join the 1943 Notre Dame football team. Their contribution helped the Fighting Irish secure a national championship before they shipped out overseas. It was during this time, while still serving, that Perko was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1944 NFL draft. His teammate in both the Marines and later in professional football, Alex Wizbicki, would also be drafted—by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945.
What stands out is how different the professional football landscape was in the immediate post-war years. Far from the glamorous spectacle we know today, it was a rugged, low-paying profession. Sports anchor Daniel Chiarelli captured it well, noting the players “got bumps and bruises and maybe a couple of hundred dollars if they were lucky.” This was not a career of luxury but one of grit, determination, and love for the game. For veterans like Perko and Wizbicki, it offered a paycheck and a path forward.
After the war, both men were assigned to the Buffalo Bisons in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Their first day at training camp felt like a major milestone. Wizbicki recalled the awe on the young players’ faces, a moment that underscored how meaningful it was for them to be part of something that felt like “the big time.” It was a sentiment rooted more in pride than in financial reward.
The Bisons would later change their name to the Buffalo Bills, a franchise name now synonymous with NFL history. Perko left after the 1946 season and returned home to Ely, where he became a high school history teacher. Wizbicki, on the other hand, stayed with the team until the AAFC folded in 1949. When the league disbanded, a dispersal draft sent him to the Green Bay Packers. Even then, the Packers' name carried significant weight. “The name of Green Bay rose and I says, boy, what notoriety, what that name has done to the state of Wisconsin,” Wizbicki reflected.
These stories highlight the deep connection between sports and community in the post-war Midwest. Football wasn't just entertainment—it was a bridge between military service and civilian life, a way to reintegrate into society while still contributing to something larger than oneself. I found this detail striking: after a brief professional career, Wizbicki dedicated his time to coaching youth football and volunteering at the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior. It speaks volumes about the values these men carried with them long after their playing days ended.
John Perko’s post-football life was equally grounded in service. He became a high school teacher, shaping young minds in the same town where he grew up. The author of the original article shares a personal connection, noting that Perko was his next-door neighbor and 11th-grade history teacher—a detail that adds depth to the narrative. Perko passed away in 1984 at the age of 66. Wizbicki lived a long life, passing in 2018 at the age of 97. Their legacies endure not only in football history but in the communities they helped build.
The story of these two veterans underscores how different the world of professional football once was. It was a time when the game served as a practical means to support a family, not a ticket to celebrity. For Perko and Wizbicki, football was less about personal glory and more about perseverance, teamwork, and community. Their journey from the battlefields of World War II to the gridirons of post-war America is a powerful reminder of how sports can reflect the values of an era and offer purpose beyond the scoreboard.
Today, as fans cheer for their favorite teams and marvel at the athleticism on display, it’s worth remembering the roots of the game. Stories like those of John Perko and Alex Wizbicki remind us that professional football, at its core, has always been about more than just the sport. It has been a lifeline, a calling, and for many veterans, a way to hold on to history while building a future.
