Bernie Kaplan

Bernie Kaplan
No. 55, 77
Kaplan in 1936
Born:(1913-05-07)May 7, 1913
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:June 14, 1992(1992-06-14) (aged 79)
Career information
Position(s)Guard
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
CollegeMcDaniel College
High schoolSimon Gratz (PA)
Career history
As player
1935–1936New York Giants
1942Philadelphia Eagles
Career stats
Games played22
Starts8

Bernard "Champ" Kaplan (May 7, 1913 – June 14, 1992) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.

A two-time national collegiate boxing champion in the light heavyweight class, Kaplan signed with Philadelphia fight manager Joe Jacobs in 1935 and was touted as "The Jewish Jack Dempsey" and a potential contender for the heavyweight boxing title, fighting at 189 pounds.