Professional Football Player. He played linebacker, fullback and defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams (1947 to 1949), Chicago Cardinals (1950), Philadelphia Eagles (1951), and the San Francisco 49ers over the course of his 5 year career. He played in 53 games. At 6ft 2in and weighing 215 lbs, he was drafted by the Cleveland Rams as the 48th pick in the sixth round of the 1945 NFL Draft. Cowhig had played at Notre Dame University from 1942 to 1946 under famed coach Frank Leahy. He was an All American fullback and captain of the Fighting Irish team that played Army to a 0-0 tie in front of 74,000 fans at Yankee Stadium on Nov 9, 1946. The tie ended Army's 25 game winning streak and ruined the Cadets' chances for a third straight national title. Jerry Cowhig was born on July 5, 1921 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. His father, David was a champion bowler and sculler in Ireland. He met his wife Mary Ellen(McCarthy), on the boat that brought them to America in 1903. He was one of six siblings. Three of his four brothers were also football players: James D Cowhig played for the High School of Commerce and then starred at Fordham; Edward D Cowhig was the star quarterback at Boston College; and Frank at Boston College High and Boston College. Jerry attended Mechanic Arts High School in Boston, Massachusetts and Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, Connecticut. A World War II veteran, Cowhig interrupted his college studies to fight in World War II in France. He returned to Notre Dame University in 1946 and graduated the following year. During his NFL career he was also an uncredited actor in a football movie called "Easy Living"(1949) with Victor Mature (for whom he doubled) and Lucille Ball. In 1951 Gerard married popular film actress, Jean Willes. The couple was introduced by actress Jane Russell, Jean’s closest pal, who was married to a teammate of Cowhig’s on the Los Angeles Rams. In 1954, they had one son, Gerry who tragically died in 2001. Gerard retired from the NFL in 1952 and spent the next 32 years as a sales manager for a Los Angeles freight company. He died at his Van Nuys, California home in 1995. He was survived by his only child Gerry W. Cowhig of Los Angeles; a sister, Margaret Mary Cowhig, and a brother, Rev Edward D Cowhig. His wife Jean predeceased him in 1989.