Harry Hopp

Harry "Hippity" Hopp was an American professional football player who was a fullback and quarterback in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Hopp played for the NFL's Detroit Lions and the AAFC's Buffalo Bisons, Miami Seahawks, and Los Angeles Dons. His older brother Johnny played 14 years in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1952.
Hopp was born in 1918 in Hastings, Nebraska. He attended Hastings High School before enrolling at the University of Nebraska. He played college football at Nebraska from 1937 to 1940. He was an all-conference back in 1940 and helped lead the football team|1940 Cornhuskers] to the MVIAA championship, a berth in the Rose Bowl, and the No. 7 ranking in the final AP poll.
Hop was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 1941 NFL Draft. He appeared in 30 games for the Lions from 1941 to 1943 seasons, including 20 games as a starter. He passed for 258 yards and rushed for 230 in 1942 and was selected to play in the Pro Bowl. In 1943, he caught 17 passes for 229 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
Hopp was married in 1940 to Delores Ann Stromer. He died in 1964 at age 46 of an apparent heart attack in Hastings, Nebraska.