Joe Cibulas
Encyclopedia
Joseph James Cibulas was an American football
offensive tackle in the National Football League
. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
during the 1945 season
. Cibulas was born near Norvelt, Pennsylvania
, located between Greensburg
and Latrobe
. He attended Hurst High School located in Norvelt, Pennsylvania
, and later Duquesne University
. Cibulas made his professional debut in the NFL in 1945 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers for his entire 1 year career.
Many sources mistakenly state that Cibulas attended Mount Pleasant Area High School
, located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
. However that school was not open until 1960 well after Cibulas' graduation in 1943.
Cibulas was drafted by the Steelers in the 25th round (237th overall) of the 1943 Draft
. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles
merged their teams during the 1943 season and became the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles"
. The teams were forced to merge because both had lost many players to military service due to World War II
. The team was nicknamed the "Steagles". However officially the team was known simply as the "Eagles" without a city designation, the Eagles-Steelers, or the Steelers-Eagles. The official NFL record book refers to the team as "Phil-Pitt."
Cibulas did not play with the merged teams. He played only one season with the Steelers in 1945.
He was inducted into the Duquesne University Sports Hall of Fame in 1974.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
during the 1945 season
1945 NFL season
The 1945 NFL season was the 26th regular season of the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals resumed their traditional operations....
. Cibulas was born near Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Norvelt is an unincorporated community in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Although the United States Census Bureau includes it in a census-designated place with the nearby community of Calumet, they are in reality two very different communities, each...
, located between Greensburg
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War...
and Latrobe
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
. He attended Hurst High School located in Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Norvelt is an unincorporated community in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Although the United States Census Bureau includes it in a census-designated place with the nearby community of Calumet, they are in reality two very different communities, each...
, and later Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
. Cibulas made his professional debut in the NFL in 1945 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers for his entire 1 year career.
Many sources mistakenly state that Cibulas attended Mount Pleasant Area High School
Mount Pleasant Area School District
Mount Pleasant School District is a public school district in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The boroughs of Mount Pleasant and Donegal, as well as the townships of Mount Pleasant and Donegal are within district boundaries.-Administration:...
, located in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It stands 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people...
. However that school was not open until 1960 well after Cibulas' graduation in 1943.
Cibulas was drafted by the Steelers in the 25th round (237th overall) of the 1943 Draft
1943 NFL Draft
The 1943 National Football League Draft was held on April 8, 1943.This draft is the first and oldest NFL Draft not to produce a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:...
. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
merged their teams during the 1943 season and became the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles"
Steagles
The Steagles is the popular nickname for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, during the 1943 season...
. The teams were forced to merge because both had lost many players to military service due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The team was nicknamed the "Steagles". However officially the team was known simply as the "Eagles" without a city designation, the Eagles-Steelers, or the Steelers-Eagles. The official NFL record book refers to the team as "Phil-Pitt."
Cibulas did not play with the merged teams. He played only one season with the Steelers in 1945.
He was inducted into the Duquesne University Sports Hall of Fame in 1974.