John Bill Polanski (September 6, 1918 – March 11, 1956) was an American football fullback. He played college football for Wake Forest and led the NCAA in rushing in 1939. He also played professional football for the Detroit Lions in 1942 and Los Angeles Dons in 1946.
Early life
Polanski was born in 1918 in Buffalo, New York. He attended Riverside High School in Buffalo. As a triple threat fullback at Riverside, he was selected by the Buffalo Courier Express as the outstanding and most versatile player of the year for 1936.
College football
Polanski initially enrolled at Cornell University where he played freshman football in 1937. He then transferred to Wake Forest University and played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team from 1939 to 1941. He led all players in the NCAA major colleges with 882 rushing yards during the 1939 season. He also led the Southern Conference in scoring with 91 points in 1939. He also scored 96 points for Wake Forest in 1941.
Polanski also played for the Wake Forest baseball and basketball teams.
Professional football and military service
In August 1942, Polanski signed with the Detroit Lions. He appeared in three games for the Lions in 1942, but his professional football career was cut short when he was ordered in early October 1942 to report to the Naval Training School at South Bend, Indiana. Polanski played football in 1944 as the fullback for the undefeated 1944 Fort Pierce Amphibs football team. While in the Navy, he was promoted from ensign to lieutenant. After being released from the military, Polanski played for the Los Angeles Dons in 1946.
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