Joe Lafleur - Class of 2008

(Escanaba)

A versatile three-year player for the NFL's Chicago Bears, Joe LaFleur is believed to be Delta County's first professional football player.  The Bears won the NFL title in 1924, LaFleur's last season, when he played guard, center and punted.  He also played fullback and halfback on the 1923 team which finished second to Jim Thorpe's Canton Bulldogs.  He was also a four-year football, basketball and baseball player at St.  Norbert College from 1913-17.