St. Thomas linebacker Rutger Heffelfinger has a long family history in football—a history that began in 1892 with the man who became the first professional football player.

Rutger explained how his great-great-uncle William Heffelfinger, better known by his nickname, “Pudge,” became a football legend.

“He got recruited for … the Allegheny Athletic Club, and they offered to pay him $500 to just play in one game,” Rutger said. “So he ended up being the first professional football player, if you will, of all time.”

Coach Glenn Caruso said Rutger’s success isn’t a surprise given his ties to football history.

“Obviously his lineage is so storied as it is, and it probably is a little bit in the genes too,” Caruso said.

Rutger said although the two played different positions, they share similar builds.

“We’re about the same size,” Rutger said. “I’ve definitely been told I resemble him a little bit, but I’m no pro football player; that’s for sure.”

Fellow linebacker Steve Dejewski said it’s Rutger’s passion and work ethic that make him stand out, and not just his family’s significant football history.

“He never told me, and we’ve known each other for three years now,” Dejewski said. “Now I know where it comes from.”

College football ran in the Heffelfinger family ever since Pudge played at Yale University, but the list continues with his grandfather, who played at Stanford University, his great uncle, who played at the University of Minnesota, and his father, who played at North Dakota State University.

“He’s a guy who’s worked for everything he’s got. Now in his third year, he’s waited his turn and has worked tirelessly for this to be his time, and he’s doing a pretty nice job for us,” Caruso said.

Molly Sigler can be reached at sigl1215@stthomas.edu.