Nick Pietrosante

Nick Pietrosante

Date of birth	(1937-09-10)September 10, 1937
Place of birth	Derby, CT
Date of death
Career information
Position(s)	FB
College	Notre Dame
NFL draft	1959 / Round: 1 / Pick 6
Career history
As player
1959–1965	Detroit Lions
1966–1967	Cleveland Browns
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls	2
Awards	1967
Records	All time leading rusher during his career at Detroit
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Nick Pietrosante (September 10, 1937 in Derby, Connecticut – February 6, 1988 in Detroit, Michigan) was an All-Pro fullback in the National Football League. Raised in Ansonia, Connecticut, he attended Notre Dame High School of West Haven, Connecticut, graduating with the Class of 1954. He was the first All State athlete at Notre Dame High School. Pietrosante was a star fullback at the University of Notre Dame, He was a first round draft pick in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Featured on cover of Sports Illustrated. NFL Rookie of the Year 1959. Multiple Pro Bowl selectee. Held all-time rushing record while at Detroit, (1959–1965). Cleveland Browns, (1966–1967). Notre Dame annually recognizes outstanding player with award in his memory. In his senior year at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT he led the 1954 team to their first undefeated season and state championship ever scoring 155 points of the 356 points scored. He also ran the hundred yard dash in 10.2 seconds for the track team.

In 1982, Pietrosante was reported to be a potential buyer of the Detroit Red Wings franchise of the National Hockey League alongside former teammates Joe Schmidt and Terry Barr. The team was eventually sold that year to Mike Ilitch.

Nick Pietrosante died of cancer at age 50.