Don Eliason

Donald Carlton Eliason was an American basketball and football player. He played one season in the Basketball [Association of America] and two seasons in the National Football League.

Early life

Eliason was born in 1917 in Owatonna, Minnesota.
Eliason attended Hamline University where he played baseball, basketball and football. In 1939, he earned all-state honors, playing at the tackle position for the Hamline football team. In 1940, he was selected as the captain and played at fullback. Eliason graduated in 1942. He was inducted into the Hamline University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976, as well as the school's Row of Honor in Hutton Arena in 2010.

Football career

In 1942, he played four games for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League. His playing career was cut short in November 1942 when he was Conscription in [the United States|drafted] into the U.S. Army during World War II. While in the service, he played on the Fort Warren travelling football team.
After the war, Eliason joined the NFL Boston Yanks. He appeared in four games for the Yanks during the 1946 season.

Basketball career

In the BAA, Eliason was a member of the Boston Celtics during their inaugural 1946–47 [Boston Celtics season|1946–47 season]. He played in one game, missing his only field goal attempt. He is one of the few to have played in both the NFL and the BAA or its successor, the National Basketball Association. Another Yanks football player, Harold Crisler, also played for the Celtics that season.

Later life

After his sporting career, Eliason was a science teacher and coach at Excelsior and Minnetonka high schools. He worked as a bonded representative for a brokerage firm before his retirement. Eliason was recognised for his volunteer work with the intellectually disabled.

BAA career statistics

Regular season