Ray Apolskis
Ray Apolskis was an American football player who spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals, mainly as a center on offense and a middle guard on defense.
Born in Cicero, Illinois, on October 19, 1919, Apolskis grew up in Chicago and attended Fenger High School, where he earned 11 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and swimming. He played college football for the Marquette Golden Avalanche and was chosen as captain as a sophomore. As a senior in 1940, he was regarded as one of the top centers in the country. His coach, Paddy Driscoll, praised his defense and all-around ability.
Apolskis was drafted by the Cardinals in 1941, in the fifth round as the 32nd overall pick. He started as a rookie in 1941. He then missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He returned in 1945 and was part of the 1947 team that won the NFL Championship—the franchise’s last title.
Even after the league adopted two-platoon rules, Apolskis played both offense and defense. In June 1950 he had an emergency appendectomy, but he recovered and signed for another season in September before retiring after 1950. In February 1951 he was promoted to captain in the Marine Corps Reserve.
After football, Apolskis worked for a steel company in San Mateo, California. He died of a heart attack on June 30, 1960, at age 40.
Career NFL statistics: 75 games played, 35 starts, 6 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:41 (CET).