Born on January 28, 1913 in Spencer Nebraska as the youngest of 12 children, end Bernie Scherer starred for three seasons for the University of Nebraska and became the first Cornhusker drafted in pro football when the Packers chose him in the third round of the inaugural NFL draft in 1936. In Green Bay, Bernie joined former Nebraska teammate George Sauer, and he even lived with Sauer and center George Svendsen in a suite at the Northland Hotel for the princely sum of $5 a piece per month.
Scherer played three seasons for the Packers, mostly as a backup to starters Don Hutson and Milt Gantenbein. From 1936-38, he caught 11 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns and appeared in two NFL championship games, winning the title in his rookie season. He would wear that ring the rest of his life.
Pittsburgh purchased his contract in 1939, and Bernie briefly played under former Packer teammate Johnny Blood who opened the season as the team’s coach. After catching just two passes in the Steel City, Scherer was hired as the defensive coach for Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, the same school that gave George Allen his coaching start eight years later. In 1941 though, Bernie was called into the Reserves where he held the rank of First Lieutenant. He subsequently was commissioned into the regular army, served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam and reached the rank of Colonel before retiring in 1964.
Scherer worked as a salesman for the National Sporting Goods Association from 1964-78 and then took on the position of Executive Director of a women’s fast-pitch softball team, the Sun City Saints. The Saints won a national title during his time in charge. He was married for 60 years and died on March 17, 2004 at age 91. He was survived by a son, a daughter and three adopted children.
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