Aug 20, 2020
For a guy who was born and raised in a small town with fewer than 300 people, Nolan Cromwell sure has lived large. A standout on the track and the football field, Cromwell came to KU as a defensive back. But after a successful two-year stint at safety, he changed positions…to quarterback. And that’s where he would make his mark as a Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year. Cromwell would lead the Jayhawks to one of the biggest wins in school history—a 23-3 drubbing of top-ranked Oklahoma in 1975. And while his senior season would be cut short due to injury, he was just getting started with his football life. Cromwell would become a Pro Bowl safety with the Los Angeles Rams, and eventually be named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s. From there, he’d find success as a coach, winning Super Bowl 31 while serving as the special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. From a small town to football’s biggest stage, Nolan Cromwell has lived it all.