Keith Birlem

Keith G. Birlem (May 4, 1915 – May 7, 1943) was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Chicago Cardinals.

Keith Birlem
No. 23
Born:(1915-05-04)May 4, 1915
San Jose, California, United States
Died:May 7, 1943(1943-05-07) (aged 28)
Polebrook, East Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom
Career information
Position(s)End
CollegeSan José State
Career history
As player
1939Chicago Cardinals
1939Washington Redskins
Career highlights and awards
HonorsSan José State Hall of Fame[1]
Career stats
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces seal U.S. Army Air Forces
Years of service1942
Rank Major
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

Birlem was born San Jose, California and attended San Mateo High School.[2]

Football career

Birlem attended and played college football at San José State University, where he played quarterback. He was inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame.[1] He then played in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins in 1939; he was moved to end as a Cardinal and appeared in six games (starting three) before being released and signing with Washington.[3]

Military career

Birlem, who reached the rank of major during World War II, was killed trying to land a combat-damaged B-17 bomber at RAF Polebrook[4] in England in 1943.[5] His bomber hit another plane and cut the tail off of it. Both crashed near the perimeter of RAF Polebrook and all 20 inside both planes died.

References
  1. "Hall of Fame Members" (PDF). SJSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  2. "Keith Birlem profile". DatabaseFootball. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  3. Anton, Todd; Nowlin, Bill (November 15, 2013). When Football Went to War. Triumph Books. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-1600788451.
  4. "CIF/Central Coast Section Athletic Alumni" (PDF). Central Coast Section. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  5. "The National Football League's World War II Casualties". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 23, 2009.
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