Quick Facts
Biography
John Spencer Pingel (November 6, 1916 – August 14, 1999) was an American football halfback.
Pingel played for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected as a first-team All-American in both 1937 and 1938. He holds the all-time NCAA record for most punting yards in a season with 4,138 yards in 1938. Pingel was a triple-threat man who also ranked among the NCAA leaders in rushing (7th with an average of 5.0 yards per rush) and passing (7th win an average of 6 completions per game) during the 1938 season.
Pingel was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round (7th overall pick) of the 1939 NFL Draft. He signed with the Lions in May 1939 and played in nine games, eight as a starter for the 1939 Detroit Lions. After retiring from football, he had a successful career in advertising, serving as the chief executive officer of the Ross Roy advertising agency. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Pingel died at age 82 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.