Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and was a consensus selection at the center position on the 1950 College Football All-America Team.
He then played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Cardinals from 1951 to 1955. He was chosen to play in the 1954 Pro Bowl.