Schneidman, Herm "Biff"

Herman Schneidman

Schneidman, who played football at the University of Iowa in the early 1930s, initially enrolled at Iowa to play basketball, but decided to concentrate on football after one season. He then played in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and won two championships with the club.

Herm received the nickname "Biff" because of his childhood craving for roast beef. He was a three-sport letterwinner in high school (football, basketball, and track) and captained both the football and basketball teams as a junior and senior.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 22, 1913

Career Highlights:
Born in Illinois, Schneidman was a three sport star (football, basketball, and track) at Quincy High School, where he captained the basketball and football teams and was named the school's top athlete as both a junior and senior (he is a member of the Quincy High School Hall of Fame).

Schnediman then played two seasons as a halfback at Iowa. In 1932, the Hawkeyes had a record of 1-7-0. Schneidman did not play in 1933, but returned in 1934, when Iowa had a record of 2-5-1. That season, the star halfback was injured in the third game of the season against Nebraska with a dislocated shoulder; the Hawkeyes did not win a game that season without him.

After graduating in 1935, Schneidman joined the Green Bay Packers. In 1936, the team had a record of 10-1-1 and won the NFL Championship by defeating the Boston Redskins, 21-6, in the title game. Two of Herm's teammates on the Packers were Buckets Goldenberg (who played thirteen seasons for the Packers) and Louis Gordon.

Two years later, the Packers (8-3-0) returned to the Championship game, this time losing to the New York Giants, 23-17. In 1939, the 9-2-0 Packers made history by recording the first shutout in an NFL Championship game when they defeated the Giants 27-0. The 1939 Packer team is considered one of the greatest in the history of the NFL.

After the 1939 season, Schneidman briefly retired, but then returned to the Packers in 1940. Then, just before the start of season, he was released by the Packers and signed by the Chicago Cardinals so he could play closer to his home and business. He joined All-NFL defensive back Biggie Goldberg on the Cardinals, who finished fifth in the NFL East with a record of 2-7-2. Schneidman retired following the 1940 season after playing in 46 career NFL games. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy and played with the Great Lakes Naval Station team.

Origin:
Rock Island, Ilinois

Career Dates:
Schneidman played halfback at the University of Iowa from 1932 and 1934. He then played as a blocking back, defensive back, linebacker, and offensive end in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers from 1935-1939, and with the Chicago Cardinals in 1940.

Physical description:
5'10", 205 pounds

Career Statistics:
In the NFL:
Games: 46

Rushes: 13
Rushing yards: 37
Rushing average: 2.8

Receptions: 7
Receiving yards: 119
Receiving average: 17.0
Receiving touchdowns: 2

Interceptions: 1
Interception return yards: 48

< Previous |  Next >