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{{Short description|American football player and sportscaster (1919–1990)}}
{{Redirect|Thomas Harmon|the American actor (his son)|Mark Harmon|other people with similar names|Thomas Harman}}
{{for-multi|the American baseball coach|Tom Harmon (baseball)|the American actor|Timothy Scott (actor, born 1937)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Tom Harmon
| image       = Tom Harmon from 1948 Michiganensian.jpg
| caption     = Harmon {{circa}} 1940
| number      = 98
| position    = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1919|9|28|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1990|3|15|1919|9|28|mf=yes}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lb   = 197
| high_school = [[Horace Mann High School (Gary, Indiana)|Horace Mann]] <br> ([[Gary, Indiana]])
| college     = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] (1938–1940)
| draftyear   = 1941
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 1
| pastteams   =
* [[New York Yankees (1940 AFL)|New York Americans]] ([[1941 American Football League season|1941]])
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1946|1947}})
| highlights  =
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1940)
* [[Maxwell Award]] (1940)
* [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|AP Athlete of the Year]] (1940)
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1940 College Football All-America Team|1940]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1939 College Football All-America Team|1939]])
* [[Chicago Tribune Silver Football]] (1940)
* 3× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1938 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1938]]–[[1940 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1940]])
* [[Michigan Wolverines football#Retired numbers|Michigan Wolverines No. 98]] retired
* [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 542
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 5.1
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 3
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue4  = 15
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 288
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 3
<!--Military service-->
{{Infobox military person
| embed         = yes
| allegiance    = {{USA}}
| branch        = [[File:US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg|20px]] [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]]
| rank          = [[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]
| battles       = [[World War II]]
| unit          = [[449th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|449th Fighter Squadron]]
| serviceyears  = 1942–1945
| resting_place = 
| awards        = [[File:Silver Star BAR.svg|20px]] [[Silver Star]] <br> [[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Purple Heart]]
}}
| pfr         = H/HarmTo20
| CollegeHOF  = 1553 
}}

'''Thomas Dudley Harmon''' (September 28, 1919 – March 15, 1990), nicknamed "'''Old 98'''",<ref name=CFHOF/> was an American [[American football|football]] player, military pilot, actor, and sports broadcaster.

Harmon played [[college football]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] for the [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan Wolverines]] from 1938 to 1940. He led the nation in scoring and was a consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] in both [[1939 College Football All-America Team|1939]] and [[1940 College Football All-America Team|1940]] and won the [[Heisman Trophy]], the [[Maxwell Award]], and the [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|AP Athlete of the Year]] award in 1940. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1954.

During [[World War II]], Harmon served as a [[Pilot (aeronautics)|pilot]] in the [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]]. In April 1943, he was the sole survivor of the crash of a bomber he piloted in South America en route to North Africa. Six months later, while flying a [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning|P-38 Lightning]], he was shot down in a [[dogfight]] with Japanese [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Zeros]] near [[Jiujiang]] in China.

After the war, Harmon played two seasons of professional football for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and had the longest run from scrimmage during the [[1946 NFL season]]. He later pursued a career in sports broadcasting and was the [[play-by-play announcer]] for the first televised [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] in the late 1940s and worked for [[CBS]] from 1950 to 1962. He later hosted a 10-minute daily sports show on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] radio network in the 1960s and worked as the sports anchor on the [[KTLA]] nightly news from 1958 to 1964. He also handled play-by-play responsibility on broadcasts of the [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA Bruins]] football games in the 1960s and 1970s.

==Early life==
Harmon was born in [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], at the family home at 118 South Weston Street, the son of Illinois natives Rose Marie (née Quinn) and Louis A. Harmon (1873–1948), a real estate agent.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KIrAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Louis+A.+and+Rose+Marie+(Quinn)+Harmon%22 | title=Who's Who in California | first=Alice Catt | last=Armstrong | publisher=Who's Who Historical Society | year=1976 | access-date=September 1, 2018}}</ref> Harmon had five older siblings, Louella, Harold, Mary, Louis, and Eugene, all born in Indiana.<ref name=censuref1>1920 U.S. Census entry for Louis Harmon and family. Census Place: Marion, Jasper, Indiana; Roll: T625_440; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 24; Image: 228. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Louis Harmon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 6, 1948|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D07E5D61639EE32A25755C0A9669D946993D6CF}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon's Mother Dead|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 13, 1952|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/01/13/archives/tom-harmons-mother-dead.html}}</ref> His maternal grandparents were Irish, while his father was of French, German, and Irish descent.<ref name=censuref1/>

In 1924, the family moved to [[Gary, Indiana]]. At the time of the 1930 U.S. Census, the family was living at 578 Van Buren in Gary, where Harmon's father was employed as a real estate salesman, and his mother was employed as a clerk for the [[United States Census Bureau|Census Bureau]].<ref>1930 U.S. Census entry for Louis A. Harmon and family. Census Place: Gary, Lake, Indiana; Roll: 599; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0011; Image: 105.0; FHL microfilm: 2340334. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line].</ref>

Harmon's three older brothers all excelled in athletics before him: Harold was a track star at [[Purdue University]], Louis played basketball at Purdue, and Eugene was the captain of [[Tulane University]]'s basketball team.<ref name=AF>{{cite news|title=Harmon Inherits Ability: Michigan's All-American Prospect Comes From Athletic Family|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press (NEA story)|author=Jerry Brondfield|date=November 16, 1939|page=28|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19391116&id=hGIbAAAAIBAJ&pg=3228,6064771}}</ref>

Harmon attended [[Horace Mann High School (Gary, Indiana)|Horace Mann High School]] in Gary, graduating in 1937.<ref name=NWI>{{cite news|title=Gary's Tom Harmon: Undisputed Gridiron Great|newspaper=Northwest Indiana Times|date=December 4, 2010|author=Al Hamnik|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/football/college/gary-s-tom-harmon-undisputed-gridiron-great/article_ce690be5-1914-54c3-a8ec-efba9cbe1007.html}}</ref> He received 14 [[varsity letter]]s in 10 sports at Horace Mann. He won the Indiana state championship both in the [[100-yard dash]] and 220-yard [[low hurdles]] and won the national interscholastic scoring championship in football with 150 points.<ref name=LAT/> He ran the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds, and 220-yard low hurdles in 22.6 seconds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan Ace Eyes Ten Varsity Letters|newspaper=The Register-Guard, Eugene, Ore. (NEA story)|date=April 23, 1939|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19390423&id=n7FWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2921,332374}}</ref> He was also a star [[basketball]] player and threw two [[no-hitter]]s as a [[pitcher]] in [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] [[baseball]].<ref name=NWI/> Michigan athletic director [[Fielding H. Yost]] in 1937 proclaimed Harmon "the greatest high school athlete of the year".<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Reported Missing in Action Against Japanese|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review (AP story)|date=November 5, 1943|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19431105&id=LHFWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6942,871276}}</ref>

==University of Michigan==
At the urging of his high-school coach Douglass Kerr, who played [[End (American football)|end]] for Michigan in [[1927 Michigan Wolverines football team|1927]] and [[1928 Michigan Wolverines football team|1928]], Harmon enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1937.<ref name=AF/> He played on the freshman football team that fall,<ref>{{cite web|title=1937 Michigan Football Roster|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan|access-date=February 17, 2015|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/rosters/search.php?data=football&year_option=equals&year=1937&sortby=lastname%2C+firstname%2C+year&find=FIND}}</ref> while the [[1937 Michigan Wolverines football team|varsity]] compiled a 4–4 record in its final season under head coach [[Harry Kipke]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1937 Football Team|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan |access-date=February 17, 2015 |url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1937fbt.htm}}</ref> In November 1937, the Associated Press published a story that [[Tulane Green Wave football|Tulane]] coach [[Bill Bevan]] had tried to lure Harmon to transfer to that school, where his older brother was a student-athlete.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paper Claims Tulane Tried To Lure Frosh Star From Michigan|newspaper=The Spartanburg Herald (AP story)|date=November 17, 1937|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19371117&id=T1AsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6194,1458473}}</ref> Harmon chose to remain at Michigan, leading the varsity football team to a 19–4–1 ({{winpct|19|4|1}}) record over the next three years.

In addition to football, Harmon was also a member of the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|basketball]] team for two years.<ref name=UofMBBMG>{{cite book|title=Michigan Basketball 2007–08 (media guide)}}</ref> He majored in English and speech at Michigan, aspiring to become a sports broadcaster, and, as a junior and senior, hosted a 15-minute program on the university radio station on Fridays.<ref name=AF/><ref name=HFNS>{{cite news|title=Harmon Finds New Success at Mike|newspaper=Courier, Prescott, Ariz. (NEA story)|date=October 12, 1965|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19651012&id=QEVPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6344,2217970}}</ref>

===1938 season===
[[File:Tom Harmon 1938.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Harmon in 1938]]
In [[1938 Michigan Wolverines football team|1938]], Michigan hired [[Fritz Crisler]] as its new football coach. As a sophomore, Harmon started seven of eight games at the [[Halfback (American football)|right halfback]] position .<ref name=t38/> He gained 405 [[rushing yards]], averaging more than five yards per carry, and also completed 21 of 45 passes for 310 yards with only one interception.<ref name=Grange>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon, Michigan Star, Held Best Since Red Grange|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (AP story)|date=October 17, 1938|page=17|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19391017&id=yZBRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5169,2038073}}</ref> With Crisler as the coach, Harmon in the backfield, and consensus All-American [[Ralph Heikkinen]] at the [[Guard (American football)|guard]] position, the Wolverines lost only one game, 7–6 to [[1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]], and improved their record to 6–1–1.<ref name=t38>{{cite web|title=1938 Football Team|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan |access-date=February 17, 2015 |url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1938fbt.htm}}</ref>

Harmon began to draw national press coverage in the fourth game of the 1938 season, as he led a second-half comeback against [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]]. After losing to Minnesota in the third week of the season, the Wolverines trailed Yale 13–2 at halftime. Harmon set up Michigan's first touchdown with a pass to Norman Purucker in the third quarter and then led the Wolverines on their final drive late in the fourth quarter. The [[United Press]] described the game-winning drive:
<blockquote>Michigan seemed to be fighting for a hopeless cause and the hand crawled around the clock toward the end of the game. In that moment of despair for all those who cheer for Michigan, Harmon came out of nowhere to dominate the field. When the Yale line braced on its own goal, Harmon gambled by waiting patiently with the ball in his hand until John Nicholson could get free to catch the pass that meant defeat for Yale.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves Nip Yale, 15 to 13|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press (UP story)|date=October 23, 1938}}</ref></blockquote>

Harmon continued to draw accolades the following week, as Michigan defeated Illinois by a 14–0 score. In the first quarter, Harmon ran for the Wolverines' first touchdown, "twisting and pushing his way the last few yards".<ref name=APIll38>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Paces Wolves to 14–0 Win Over Illinois Eleven|newspaper=Milwaukee News-Sentinel (AP story)|date=October 30, 1938|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19381030&id=EEpQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6993,5008552}}</ref> He then "rifled" a pass to [[Forest Evashevski]] in the third quarter for Michigan's second touchdown.<ref name=APIll38/>

In the final game of the 1938 season, Harmon led Michigan to an 18–0 victory over [[1938 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]], a game that was said to be the "climax of the Wolverines' return as a major gridiron power".<ref name=UPOSU38>{{cite web|title=Michigan Drubs Ohio: Tom Harmon Is Spark Plug in 18–0 Victory by Scoring First Touchdown and Tossing Pass for Second|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal (UP story)|date=November 20, 1938|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19381120&id=fnYxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4016,1179574}}</ref> Michigan had suffered four consecutive shutouts at the hands of the Buckeyes prior to the 1938 game. In the first quarter, Harmon ran for a touchdown, tallying Michigan's first points against Ohio State since 1933. In the fourth quarter, Harmon threw a 15-yard pass to [[Ed Frutig]] for Michigan's second touchdown.<ref name=UPOSU38/>

At the end of the 1938 season, Harmon, described as "Michigan's sophomore sensation", won first-team honors on the [[United Press]] [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten Conference]] team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Teams Put Men on Big 10 Squad of Honor|newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel (UP story)|date=November 23, 1938|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19381123&id=L8kzAAAAIBAJ&pg=3157,5731716}}</ref> Harmon and teammate, Forest Evashevski, also won first-team all-conference honors from the [[Associated Press]], becoming the first sophomores to be so honored since 1934.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big 10 Pick Has 3 Wolverines: Michigan's Comeback Seen in Choices of Stars by Coaches|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News (AP story)|date=November 21, 1938|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19381121&id=l-Y-AAAAIBAJ&pg=4502,6201690}}</ref>

===1939 season===
As a junior in [[1939 Michigan Wolverines football team|1939]], Harmon started at the right halfback position in seven of eight games. The Wolverines compiled a 6–2 record, with losses to [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois]] and [[1939 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]], and were ranked number 20 in the final [[AP poll]].<ref name=t39>{{cite web|title=1939 Football Team|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan |access-date=February 17, 2015 |url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1939fbt.htm}}</ref> For the season, Harmon rushed for 868 yards on 129 carries in eight games, an average of 6.7 yards per carry. His average of 108.5 yards per game was the best in the NCAA during the 1939 season, more than 20 yards higher than any other player.<ref name=p1179>ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1179.</ref> He also led the nation in scoring with 102 points on 14 touchdowns, 15 extra points, and one field goal.<ref name=p1179/>

In the second game of the season, a 27–7 victory over [[1939 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]], Harmon scored every point for Michigan,<ref name=APIowa39/> including four touchdowns and three extra points. His longest run of the day was for 91 yards.<ref name=Grange/> The Associated Press called it one of the most amazing individual performances seen in the Big Ten since the days of [[Red Grange]], describing Harmon "[d]arting, dodging and twisting up and down the chalk lines like a ballet dancer".<ref name=APIowa39>{{cite news|title=Harmon Leads Michigan to Win Over Iowa, 27-7|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune (AP story)|date=October 15, 1939|page=5|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19391015&id=6OMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1667,1105906}}</ref> After the game, Michigan coach Crisler praised Harmon's all-around contributions:
<blockquote>Harmon has everything. He's best known as a runner, but I'd say his blocking and defensive work are equally good. . . . He has a wonderful change of pace and can dodge and cut on a dime.<ref name=Grange/></blockquote>

[[File:Tom Harmon vs. Yale 1939.png|thumb|250px|Harmon running for score vs. Yale, 1939]]
In the third game of the season, an 85–0 victory over [[Chicago Maroons football|Chicago]], Harmon ran 57 yards for a touchdown and threw touchdown passes to [[Forest Evashevski]] and [[Bob Westfall]] before being taken out of the game for the second- and third-string backfield.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves Smash Chicago, 85-0|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=2|date=October 21, 1939|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19391021&id=p3UxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3438,3924631}}</ref>

In Michigan's fourth game, a 27–7 victory over Yale, Harmon scored three touchdowns, kicked three extra points, and gained 203 yards on 18 carries. His longest gain of the day was a 59-yard touchdown run on a reverse play around the left end.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Stars as Michigan Crushes Yale Team, 27 to 7|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=October 29, 1939|page=4B|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19391029&id=9OMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4605,2178038}}</ref>

In the final game of the 1939 season, Michigan defeated an [[1939 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State team]] that was ranked number six in the country. After the Buckeyes took a 14–0 lead in the first 10 minutes, Harmon led the Wolverines to a comeback victory by a 21–14 score. In the second quarter, Harmon threw a 49-yard pass to Joe Rogers and then connected with Evashevski for the touchdown. In the third quarter, Harmon scored Michigan's second touchdown on a run around the right end. With 50 second remaining in the game, Harmon faked a field goal attempt as the holder picked up the ball and ran 24 yards for a touchdown behind Harmon's blocking. Harmon also kicked all three extra points for Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan Takes Ohio Staters: Harmon Paces Rally To Trip Buckeyes In Last Half, 21-14|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News (AP story)|date=November 26, 1939|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19391126&id=LE1BAAAAIBAJ&pg=6375,6274310}}</ref>

At the end of the 1939 season, Harmon was selected as Michigan's most valuable player,<ref name=t39/> and he was a consensus pick for the [[1939 College Football All-America Team]], receiving first-team honors from, among others, the All-America Board, the Associated Press, ''[[Collier's Weekly]]'', the [[International News Service]], ''[[Liberty (general interest magazine)|Liberty]]'', ''[[Newsweek]]'', the ''[[Sporting News]]'', the [[United Press]], ''[[Boys' Life]]'', the [[Central Press Association]], and ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=ESPN College Football Encyclopedia|page=1178|publisher=ESPN Books|year=2005|isbn=1401337031}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 1939 All-American, All-Scout Team|newspaper=[[Boys' Life]]|date=February 1940|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AjJ720vFQg4C&q=%22john+haman%22+northwestern+center&pg=PA45}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Walter Johns|title=South Dominates Captains' All-American|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=December 10, 1939}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Is Chosen Captain on Collegiate Writers' All-American|newspaper=Columbia Daily Spectator|date=December 13, 1939|page=1|url=http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19391213-01.2.6&e=-------en-20--32645--txt-txIN-Columbia-ARTICLE-51-1000--#}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bill Stern, Top NBC Announcer, Picks His 1939 All-America Team|newspaper=Life|date=November 20, 1939|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=90EEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22john+haman%22+northwestern+center&pg=PA94}}</ref> He also finished second in the voting for the 1939 [[Heisman Trophy]], garnering 405 votes, while [[Nile Kinnick]] won the award with 651 votes.<ref>ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1178.</ref>

===1940 season===
[[File:Tom Harmon 1941 Michiganensian p 193.png|right|thumb|175px|Harmon from 1941 ''[[Michiganensian]]'']]
[[File:Tom Harmon and Fielding Yost 1940.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Harmon with [[Fielding H. Yost]] in 1940]]
As a senior, Harmon started all eight games for Michigan, seven at left halfback and one at right halfback. The [[1940 Michigan Wolverines football team|1940 Michigan team]] compiled a 7–1 record, losing to national champion [[1940 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|Minnesota]] by one point, and finished the season ranked number three in the final AP poll.<ref name=t40>{{cite web|title=1940 Football Team|publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan |access-date=February 17, 2015 |url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1940fbt.htm}}</ref> For the season, Harmon rushed for 844 yards on 186 carries, an average of 4.5 yards per carry and 105.5 yards per game.<ref name=p1182>ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p. 1182.</ref> For the second straight year, he also led the country in scoring with 117 points on 16 touchdowns, 18 extra points, and one field goal.<ref name=p1182/>

In the opening game of the 1940 season, Michigan defeated [[California Golden Bears football|California]] by a 41–0 score. While celebrating his 21st birthday, Harmon scored four touchdowns, kicked four extra points, and threw a touchdown pass to [[David M. Nelson]]. Harmon's first touchdown came on the opening kickoff, which he returned 94 yards. His second touchdown came in the second quarter on a 72-yard punt return in which he reportedly dodged and swerved from one side of the field to the other, running about 100 yards before reaching the end zone. His third touchdown was on an 85-yard run in the second quarter. During the third touchdown run, a spectator jumped from the stands and ran onto the field trying to tackle Harmon. Even the 12th man, who was escorted off the field by police, could not stop Harmon from reaching the endzone. The Associated Press wrote that Harmon found California's defense "about as strong as a wet paper bag", noted that Harmon was "as hard to snare as a greased pig", and opined that the only reason Michigan's point total was not higher was that "Michigan's first-string players ran themselves into a complete state of exhaustion."<ref name=NYTCA>{{cite news|title=Michigan Blanks California, 41–0, Harmon Getting Four Touchdowns; All-America Back Dashes 94, 72, 86 and 8 Yards to Score and Passes to Nelson for Tally--35,000 at Berkeley|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 29, 1940|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/09/29/archives/michigan-blanks-california-410-harmon-getting-four-touchdowns.html| access-date= January 15, 2012 }}</ref> After his performance against California, Fritz Crisler called Harmon "the greatest player I've ever coached".<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Has Score to Settle With Ghost of Galloping Ghost|newspaper=The Independent, St. Petersburg, Florida|date=October 1, 1940|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19401001&id=7uFPAAAAIBAJ&pg=2729,5897642}}</ref>

In the second week of the season, Harmon, in a performance described by the Associated Press as "virtually a one-man show", ran for all three Michigan touchdowns and kicked all three extra points in a 21–14 victory over [[Michigan State Spartans football|Michigan State]]. He increased his scoring total to 49 points after two games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Leads Michigan To 21–14 Win Over State|newspaper=Reading Eagle (AP story)|date=October 6, 1940|page=15|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19401006&id=YQ0xAAAAIBAJ&pg=2217,131788}}</ref>

In the third week of the season, Michigan defeated [[Harvard Crimson football|Harvard]] by a 26–0 score, and Harmon increased his scoring total to 69 points, as he ran for three touchdowns, passed for another touchdown, and kicked two extra points. The United Press reported that the "smooth-gaited" Harmon "thrilled the spectators for more than three periods with brilliant dashes", and left the game in the fourth quarter to "tremendous applause" from the fans in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Rides Again for Michigan|newspaper=The Sunday Morning Star, Wilmington, Del. (UP story)|author=Tom Noonan|date=October 13, 1940|page=27|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2293&dat=19401013&id=iM0mAAAAIBAJ&pg=4831,5567520}}</ref>

In the season's fourth game, as Michigan defeated Illinois, 28–0, Harmon increased his point total to 80 as he ran for a touchdown and kicked a field goal and an extra point.<ref>{{cite news|title=Weather Slows Tom Harmon But Michigan Wins Again|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post-Times (AP story)|date=October 20, 1940|page=13|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19401020&id=rlYyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3782,6044409}}</ref>

In Michigan's fifth game, Harmon played all 60 minutes and was responsible for both touchdowns in a 14–0 victory over a previously unbeaten [[Penn Quakers football|Penn]] team featuring the country's second-leading scorer, [[Frank Reagan]]. Harmon ran 20 yards on a lateral from Evashevski for the first touchdown and passed 15 yards to [[Ed Frutig]] for the second. Harmon also kicked both of Michigan's extra points.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michigan Beats Penn 14 to 0: Harmon Is Outstanding Star; Tom Figures In Two Scores|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=October 26, 1940|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19401026&id=1bRQAAAAIBAJ&pg=4322,4813440}}</ref> He was responsible for 155 yards from scrimmage, played the second half with his shirt "half ripped off his back", and reportedly "gave the dogged Quaker defense a going over that will never be forgotten".<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Beats Penn: Michigan Star Puts on a Big Show|author=Stanley Woodward|newspaper=The Miami Daily News|date=October 27, 1940|page=3C|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2410&dat=19401027&id=wVEuAAAAIBAJ&pg=1727,2683597}}</ref>

In the sixth game, Michigan suffered its only loss to Minnesota. Playing on a wet and slippery field, Harmon completed 9 of 14 passes, despite throwing what was described as "a bar of slippery soap", including a touchdown pass to Evashevski. Harmon missed the extra point kick that left Michigan trailing 7–6. Harmon later recalled: "It makes me sick to think of the chances we blew that day. We should have beaten them by four or five touchdowns. They're a good club, but we're better, and so is Northwestern."<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon and the Gopher Game|author=Bob Considine|newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel|date=December 6, 1940|page=24|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19401206&id=WJ4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=3357,1204143}}</ref>

In his final college football game, Harmon led the Wolverines to a 40–0 victory over [[1940 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State]], scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, and four [[extra point]]s, and intercepting three passes, and [[Punt (gridiron football)|punting]] three times for an average of 50 yards. In a display of sportsmanship and appreciation, the Ohio State fans in Columbus gave Harmon a standing ovation at game's end.<ref name="michigantoday">{{cite news|title=The Late Great 98: Tom Harmon on the field and at war|url=http://michigantoday.umich.edu/a6651/|work=Michigan Today|date=September 17, 2008}}</ref> No other Wolverine player has been so honored, before or since.

At the end of the 1940 season, Harmon won numerous awards, including:
*On November 25, 1940, the Maxwell Memorial Club announced that Harmon had been chosen as the winner of the [[Maxwell Award]] as "the nation's No. 1 football player for 1940".<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Is Named for Maxwell Trophy|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review (AP story)|date=November 26, 1940|page=11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19401126&id=jChWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2912,3568827}}</ref>
*On November 28, 1940, Harmon was announced as the winner of the [[Heisman Trophy]] as the country's outstanding college football player with a record count of 1,303 votes.<ref name=Heisman>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Named Year's Top Gridder|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle (UP story)|date=November 28, 1940|page=14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19401128&id=uu9XAAAAIBAJ&pg=4661,6267933}}</ref> 
*On December 10, 1940, Harmon was named the male athlete of the year across all sports in annual polling of sports experts conducted by the Associated Press. Harmon received 147 points in the poll, nearly tripling the points received by runner-up [[Hank Greenberg]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Named No. 1 Male Athlete |newspaper=The Miami News (AP story)|date=December 10, 1940|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19241209&id=IEAuAAAAIBAJ&pg=3655,6751707}}</ref>
*Harmon was also a unanimous All-American, receiving first-team honors from the All-America Board, the [[Associated Press]], ''[[Collier's Weekly]]'', the [[International News Service]], ''Liberty'' magazine, the [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]], ''[[Newsweek]]'', the ''[[Sporting News]]'', and the [[United Press]].<ref name=p1181>ESPN College Football Encyclopedia, p 1181.</ref>
*In mid-December 1940, Harmon was unanimously selected as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pick Tom Harmon as Most Valuable Player in Big 10|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal (AP story)|date=December 15, 1940|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19401215&id=x6xQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2149,7442130}}</ref>
*Harmon and backfield teammate [[Forest Evashevski]], described as Michigan's "two-man gang", were both selected by conference coaches for the third consecutive year as first-team players on the Associated Press All-Big Ten Conference team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon and Evashevski Repeat on AP's All-Big Ten: Michigan Stars Named for Third Year in a Row|author=Earl Hilligan|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times (AP story)|date=November 24, 1940|page=12|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19401125&id=-jRPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7034,7963950}}</ref>

===Career statistics and legacy===
In his three seasons at Michigan, Harmon rushed for 2,151 yards on 399 carries, completed 101 of 233 passes for 1,396 yards and 16 [[touchdown]]s, and scored 237 points.<ref name=Old98/> During his career, he played all 60 minutes eight times.<ref name=ESPNB10/> Harmon also scored 33 touchdowns, breaking Red Grange's collegiate record of 31 touchdowns.<ref name=Heisman/> He led the nation in scoring in both 1939 and 1940 (a feat that remains unmatched).<ref name=ESPNB10>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Todd|editor=MacCambridge, Michael|title=ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia|chapter=Michigan|publisher=ESPN Enterprises|year=2007|isbn=978-1-933060-49-1|page=59}}</ref> His career average of 9.9 points per game stood as an NCAA record for ten seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/football_records/DI/2009/2009FBS.pdf|title=2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records|access-date=July 9, 2010|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]|page=46}}</ref>

Harmon was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1954,<ref name=CFHOF>{{College Football HoF|id=1553|name=Tom "Old 98" Harmon|accessdate=February 18, 2015}}</ref> the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1962,<ref>{{cite web|title=Inductees|publisher=Michigan Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=February 18, 2015|url=http://www.michigansportshof.org/inductees_past.php|archive-date=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709091345/http://www.michigansportshof.org/inductees_past.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1974,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Is Named To Hoosier Hall of Fame|newspaper=The Argus-Press|date=December 10, 1974|page=14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19741210&id=AzUyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5077,3614588}}</ref> and the [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]] (as one of five inaugural inductees) in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor|date=February 6, 2011 |publisher=Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan|access-date=February 18, 2015|url=http://btn.com/2011/02/06/big-ten-icons-tom-harmon/?like=1}}</ref> In 2007, Harmon was ranked 16th on [[ESPN]]'s Top 25 Players in College Football list.<ref>{{cite web|title=25 Greatest Player in College Football|work=ESPN.com|date=October 30, 2007 |access-date=February 18, 2015|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3086827}}</ref> Harmon was also ranked fifth on the [[Big Ten Network]]'s program "Big Ten Icons", honoring the greatest athletes in the Big Ten Conference's history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Legend Harmon Named Big Ten Icon No. 5|publisher=University of Michigan|work=Mgoblue.com|date=January 31, 2011|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/013111aab.html}}</ref>

In November 1940, Michigan's equipment manager announced that Harmon's jersey number, 98, would be retired when Harmon played his last game.<ref name=Old98>{{cite news|title=In Moth Balls: Harmon's '98' Placed Alongside Old '47'|author=Bernard Crandell|newspaper=San Jose News (UP story)|date=November 25, 1940|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1977&dat=19401125&id=tFUlAAAAIBAJ&pg=3398,2408643}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hailed! Retired jerseys at Michigan|author=James David Dickson|publisher=Michigan Today|date=November 10, 2010|url=http://michigantoday.umich.edu/a7891/}}</ref> About 73 years later, Michigan unretired Harmon's jersey as part of its [[Michigan Wolverines football#Michigan Football Legends|Michigan Football Legends]] program. During a ceremony in September 2013, Harmon was honored as a Michigan Football Legend, and [[Devin Gardner]] was chosen as the first Michigan player since 1940 to wear the jersey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Devin Gardner dons No. 98 jersey|publisher=ESPN.com (AP story)|date=September 8, 2013|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9647888/michigan-wolverines-unretires-tom-harmon-no-98-jersey-devin-gardner}}</ref>

==Professional football and movies==
In December 1940, Harmon was selected by the [[Chicago Bears]] with the first selection in the first round of the [[1941 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Chicago Bears Get First Call For Tom Harmon|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=December 10, 1940|page=6|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19401210&id=oHUcAAAAIBAJ&pg=2968,5901830}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1941 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1941/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, Harmon declined to sign with the Bears, initially stating that he was through playing football and instead planned to pursue a career in radio and the movies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Halas of Bears Hasn't Given Up on Tom Harmon|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=June 11, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19410611&id=IaZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2898,5192048}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Halas Confers With Harmon: Chicago Bears Own Has First Call on Michigan Fullback|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 24, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19410824&id=NO8ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=5784,3286620}}</ref>

In March 1941, Harmon signed a contract with [[Columbia Pictures]] to star in a motion picture, titled ''[[Harmon of Michigan]]'', with filming set to commence in July 1941, after Harmon graduated from Michigan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon In Movies|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times (UP story)|date=March 15, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19410315&id=UYpaAAAAIBAJ&pg=7091,5878771}}</ref> The film was released later that year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harmon of Michigan|access-date=February 17, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/82278/Harmon-of-Michigan/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218024205/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/82278/Harmon-of-Michigan/overview|url-status=dead|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Hal Erickson|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|date=2015|archive-date=February 18, 2015}}</ref> His film appearances included two [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] [[Martin and Lewis]] comedies as a sports announcer, ''[[That's My Boy (1951 film)|That's My Boy]]'' (1951) and ''[[The Caddy]]'' (1953).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363567/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t25 Tom Harmon] filmography at IMDb</ref>

On October 10, 1941, the [[New York Yankees (1940 AFL)|New York Americans]] of the rival [[American Football League (1940)|American Football League]] announced that they had signed Harmon to play in the final four games of the 1941 season for around $1,500 per game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Accepts Pro Football Offer|newspaper= (AP story)|date=October 11, 1941|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1964&dat=19411011&id=tCRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3824,3036557}}</ref>

==Military service==
In May 1941, the draft board in [[Lake County, Indiana]], announced that Harmon had been classified as 1-B and deferred as a student until July 1, 1941.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Deferred by Gary Draft Board|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=May 20, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19410520&id=56xQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2222,2232072}}</ref> In July 1941, Harmon was granted a further 60-day deferment based on his claim that he was the sole support for his parents.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tommy Harmon Gets 60-Day Draft Deferment|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=July 6, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19410706&id=w8A0AAAAIBAJ&pg=5226,6728882}}</ref> In September 1941, he appeared in front of the draft board seeking a permanent deferment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Asks New Draft Rating|newspaper=Toledo Blade|date=September 12, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19410912&id=YUYjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4093,1952882}}</ref> His request was denied, and he was classified as 1-A. Harmon, then working as a radio announcer in Detroit, stated that he intended to appeal the ruling.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Is Denied Draft Deferment, Faces Call|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=September 19, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19410919&id=QlIbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1958,3622056}}</ref> His appeal was denied in October 1941,<ref>{{cite news|title=Harmon Loses Appeal for Draft Deferment|date=October 19, 1941|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19411019&id=LeNOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4764,3604182}}</ref> and he was given until November 1941 to enlist.<ref name=THJAC/>

Harmon applied to enlist as a cadet in the [[United States Army Air Corps]] in early November 1941.<ref name=THJAC>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Joins Air Corps|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=November 6, 1941|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19411106&id=sJQpAAAAIBAJ&pg=6573,556366}}</ref> He was granted permission to enlist as a cadet in March 1942.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Going In Army Air Corps|newspaper=The Day|date=March 26, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19420326&id=LL80AAAAIBAJ&pg=3652,6261417}}</ref> Despite rumors that he had washed out of flight school, Harmon underwent his first 60 hours of flight training at [[Oxnard Air Force Base]] in [[Camarillo, California]], and then finished basic flying school at [[Gardner Army Airfield]] in [[Taft, California]], in September 1942. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and a twin-engined bomber pilot and assigned to [[Williams Air Force Base|Williams Field]] in Arizona in October 1942.<ref>{{cite news|title=Down in Front|author=Shavenau Glick|newspaper=Berkeley Daily Gazette|date=August 17, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19420817&id=2jMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=3058,3113892}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Gets Wings|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 31, 1942|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/10/31/archives/tom-harmon-gets-wings.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Is Reported Missing: Old 98 Is Lost In Latin America|newspaper=Ludington Daily News|date=April 15, 1943|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19430415&id=1YtSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6736,4003261}}</ref>

In April 1943, an Army bomber piloted by Harmon, and nicknamed "Old 98" after Harmon's football jersey number, crashed into the South American jungle while en route to North Africa. Harmon reported that he had been flying through heavy rain turbulence for two hours. When Harmon tried to fly the plane to an opening in the weather, there was a sharp crack from the right wing and engine, and Harmon was unable to pull the plane from a steep dive. After ordering his crew to bail out, Harmon parachuted from the plane at 1,500 feet. He ended up in a tree 20 yards from where his plane crashed. Out of a crew of six, Harmon was the sole survivor of the crash and spent several days working his way through jungle and swamp.<ref name=LHT/><ref>{{cite news|title=Wrecked Army Plane of Lt. Tom Harmon Found in Jungle|newspaper=Ludington Daily News|date=April 19, 1943|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19430419&id=k1xOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5828,4217276}}</ref> He ultimately came upon natives in [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Dutch Guiana]] who escorted him in a [[dugout canoe]] to a village, where he was taken by [[outrigger canoe]] to a base of the [[Antilles Air Command]].<ref name=LHT>{{cite news|author=Tom Harmon|title=Lt. Tom Harmon Tells of Spectacular Crash In South American Jungle and His Wanderings Until He Is Rescued|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=April 22, 1943|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19430422&id=mSBPAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080,4147946}}</ref><ref name="opc">{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon, Former Oxnard Cadet, Missing In Flight|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/oxnard/oxnard-press-courier-oxnard-california/1943/07-15/|work=[[Oxnard Press-Courier]]|date=April 15, 1943}}</ref>

After a brief assignment as a [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]] pilot in North Africa, Harmon was assigned to duty with the [[449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]] in China in the summer of 1943. In October of that year, while escorting bombers on a low-level mission over [[Jiujiang]], Harmon's P-38 was shot down over the [[Yangtze|Yangtze River]] by a Japanese [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Zero]] during a [[dogfight]]. According to some accounts, Harmon shot down two Zeros in a dogfight over the Jiujiang docks and warehouses.<ref name=Home>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Is Home: Flier Returns From Fighter Air Base in China|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World (AP story)|date=January 25, 1944|page=6|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19440125&id=kn5dAAAAIBAJ&pg=3831,2956569}}</ref> Harmon was forced to bail out into Japanese-occupied China. He was later rescued by anti-Japanese Chinese guerrillas.<ref name="michigantoday"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Is 'Okay' In China; Was Missing a Month After Raid|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=November 30, 1943|page=1|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19431130&id=zu4ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=4380,6227638}}</ref> Harmon was awarded the [[Purple Heart]] and the [[Silver Star]] for his actions with the 449th Fighter Squadron.<ref name="si2008">{{cite magazine|title=Conquering Hero|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2008/08/20/105724568/conquering-hero|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=August 20, 2008}}</ref>

Harmon returned from China in January 1944.<ref name=Home/> In November 1944, Harmon's account of his war service was published by Thomas Y. Crowell Company under the title, "Pilots Also Pray".<ref>{{cite news|title=A Flying Halfback; Pilots Also Pray|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Thomas Haynes|date=November 19, 1944|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/11/19/archives/a-flying-halfback-pilots-also-pray-by-lieut-tom-harmon-184-pp-new-y.html}}</ref> He was promoted to the rank of captain in April 1945,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lt. Tom Harmon Becomes Captain|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle (AP story)|date=April 10, 1945|page=10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19450410&id=L9lXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6545,1751031}}</ref> and he was discharged from the military at the end of the war on August 13, 1945.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Given His Army Discharge|newspaper=Gettysburg Times (AP story)|date=August 14, 1945|page=2|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19450814&id=C4QlAAAAIBAJ&pg=3777,4235302}}</ref>

==Postwar career==

===Return from service===
In August 1945, upon his discharge from the military, Harmon joined the college all-star team to play against the NFL champions (the [[Green Bay Packers]]) in the annual [[Chicago College All-Star Game|College Football All-Star Classic]] in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon to Join Stars|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=August 15, 1945|page=10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19450815&id=EjAaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6460,6313757}}</ref> Although the Packers defeated the college all-star team by a 19–7 score, Harmon provided a highlight with a 76-yard kickoff return that set up the all-stars' only touchdown. Harmon also kicked the extra point.<ref>{{cite news|title=Packers Defeat Collegians 19 to 7|newspaper=The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia (AP story)|date=August 31, 1945|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19450831&id=ZjFkAAAAIBAJ&pg=2443,2514461}}</ref>

Even before his playing days had ended, Harmon had begun to pursue a career in broadcasting. Before joining the military, he worked as the sports editor for [[WJR]] radio in [[Detroit]].<ref name=Stuff/> In September 1945, Harmon returned to Detroit's WJR radio to broadcast Michigan football games for the 1945 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Signed to Broadcast Games|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal (AP story)|date=September 7, 1945|page=10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19450907&id=9_AZAAAAIBAJ&pg=4268,2351342}}</ref> In October 1945, Harmon was hired to do a Saturday evening sports-feature program to be broadcast on the [[Mutual Radio Network]]. He said at the time that his playing days were behind him and that he intended to move to California after the football season was over.<ref name=Stuff>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon To Do His Stuff On Radio|newspaper=The Herald, Spartanburg, South Carolina|date=October 13, 1945|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19451013&id=UVosAAAAIBAJ&pg=5983,3498667}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Rams===
[[File:Tom Harmon 1947.jpg|thumb|180px|Harmon, circa 1947, as a member of the Los Angeles Rams]]
Harmon's retirement from football was short-lived. In July 1946, he signed a two-year contract to play professional football for the [[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Los Angeles Rams Sign Tom Harmon|newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News|date=July 21, 1946|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19460721&id=SPI-AAAAIBAJ&pg=5984,4050586}}</ref> Harmon later recalled that his return to the playing field was reluctant and made necessary by a $7,000 tax bill he received for his prewar earnings.<ref name=HFNS/>

A "series of injuries to war-weakened muscles" hampered his comeback.<ref name=MJ46/> He appeared in 10 games for the Rams during the [[1946 NFL season]], rushing for 236 yards on 47 carries, and catching 10 passes for 199 yards. He had an 84-yard run against the [[Chicago Bears]] on October 14, 1946, that was the longest in the NFL in 1946.<ref name=MJ46/><ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Tom Harmon|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=February 17, 2015|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarmTo20.htm}}</ref> He also gained 135 yards on 18 carries in a 1946 game against the [[Green Bay Packers]].<ref name=MJ46>{{cite news|title=Critic Said Harmon Was Done, But Look!|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=October 18, 1946|page=2|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19461018&id=Bi0aAAAAIBAJ&pg=6064,1399149}}</ref> The following year, Harmon appeared in 12 games for the Rams, gaining 306 rushing yards on 60 carries, and catching five passes for 89 yards.<ref name=PFR/>

Harmon believed that his talents did not fit with the [[T-formation]] offense run by the Rams, and having broken his nose 13 times, he retired for good from his playing career after the 1947 season.<ref name=HFNS/><ref name=PFR/> Harmon later recalled that he went from a $1,500-a-week job as a player to a $100-a-week position as an announcer in [[Glendale, California]].<ref name=HFNS/>

===Broadcasting career===
After retiring as a player in 1947, Harmon returned to his career as a sports broadcaster, becoming one of the first and most successful athletes to make the transition from player to broadcaster.<ref name=HFNS/> Harmon attributed his successful career in radio and television to the early education he received from his drama teacher, Mary Gorrell, at Horace Mann high school. During the 1948 season, he broadcast Rams' games for [[KFI]] radio in Los Angeles. In the late 1940s, he was the [[play-by-play announcer]] for [[NBC]] on the first television broadcast of a [[Rose Bowl Game]].<ref name=LAT>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Dies at 70 : Football: Michigan's Old 98, Heisman Trophy winner in 1940, suffered a heart attack after playing round of golf|date=March 16, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Larry Stewart|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-16-sp-219-story.html}}</ref> From around 1950 to 1962, Harmon worked as a sportscaster for the [[CBS]] network.<ref name=THS/> He also handled the nightly sport report on [[KTLA]] television in Los Angeles from 1958 to 1964.<ref name=LAT/>

In 1962, Harmon joined the sports staff of the ABC radio network.<ref name=THS>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon Signs With ABC Network|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette (AP story)|date=April 3, 1962|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19620403&id=KvIqAAAAIBAJ&pg=6570,262179}}</ref> He developed a concept for a 10-minute daily sports program. He hired the crew, purchased the equipment, found sponsors, and then sold the program to ABC.<ref>{{cite news|title=All-America Tom Harmon Now 'Tom Harmon Enterprises'|author=Bob Myers|newspaper=Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian (AP story)|date=December 12, 1963|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19631212&id=vcEfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4264,6576965}}</ref> His 10-minute broadcasts became a staple of the ABC radio network. By 1965, his company, Tom Harmon Sports, was generating annual gross revenue of $1 million and had six full-time employees.<ref name=HFNS/> In 1964, he hosted a Saturday afternoon program on CBS television called "The NFL Today."

In the early 1970s, Harmon was the spokesman in television commercials for Kellogg's [[Product 19]] cereal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Product 19 Cereal Commercial featuring Tom Harmon|publisher=Kellogg's|year=1972|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWe0sA3ocBs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/JWe0sA3ocBs |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Product 19 Cereal Commercial featuring Tom Harmon, Mark Harmon and Elyse Knox|publisher=Kellogg's|year=1972|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKLC01cY_k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/hvKLC01cY_k |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also worked as the play-by-play announcer for [[UCLA Bruins football]] games on KTLA during the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name=LAT/> In his later years, he was the host of ''Raider Playbook'' on [[KNBC]] in Los Angeles and also handled play-by-play responsibility for [[Los Angeles Raiders]]' preseason games.<ref name=LAT/>

==Family==
[[File:ElyseknoxYANK1943c.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Actress [[Elyse Knox]], who was married to Harmon in 1944]]
In August 1944, Harmon married actress and model [[Elyse Knox]] in a ceremony at St. Mary's student chapel at the [[University of Michigan]].<ref name=Wed>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmon, Elyse Knox Are Married|newspaper=San Jose Evening News|date=August 26, 1944|page=3|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1983&dat=19440825&id=FiYiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4009,4512445}}</ref> Harmon saved his silk parachute from the crash of his P-38, and it was used as the material for his wife's wedding dress.<ref name=si2008/> The couple had three children:
* [[Kristin Nelson|Kristin Harmon Nelson]] (June 25, 1945 - April 27, 2018), was born in [[Burbank, California]], where Harmon was stationed at the time.<ref name=Dau>{{cite news|title=Tom Harmons Have Daughter|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 27, 1945|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/06/27/archives/tom-harmons-have-daughter.html}}</ref> She married recording artist [[Ricky Nelson]] in 1963.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rick Nelson To Wed Tom Harmon's Daughter|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner (AP story)|date=December 27, 1962|page=7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19621227&id=7XtPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1243,6583336}}</ref> Harmon joked in the mid-1960s that he was then known as "Ricky Nelson's father-in-law".<ref name=HFNS/> Kristin worked as an actress and primitive artist and had four children: [[Tracy Nelson (actress)|Tracy Nelson]], twins [[Gunnar Nelson (musician)|Gunnar]] and [[Matthew Nelson (musician)|Matthew Nelson]], and Sam.<ref>{{Cite news| author = Vernon Scott| title = Dynastic Hollywood Family| newspaper = UPI Hollywood Reporter| year = 1999| url = http://kristinnelson.com/kn_book.html| access-date = February 18, 2015| archive-date = November 24, 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101124222029/http://kristinnelson.com/kn_book.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> 
*[[Kelly Harmon|Kelly Harmon Miller]] (born November 9, 1948) is a former actress and model, who later became an interior designer.<ref name=LAT/> She married automaker [[John DeLorean]] in 1969.<ref>{{cite news|title=John DeLorean Weds Kelly Harmon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 1, 1969|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/06/01/archives/john-delorean-weds-kelly-harmon-a-model.html}}</ref> She later married ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' publisher Robert L. Miller in 1984.<ref>{{cite news|title=Robert L. Miller Weds Kelly Harmon|date=June 24, 1984|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/24/style/robert-l-miller-weds-kelly-harmon.html}}</ref> 
*[[Mark Harmon]] (born September 2, 1951) played Quarterback for the [[1973 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA Bruins]] before becoming a film and television actor. A Golden Globe and Emmy Awards nominee, he was chosen as ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'''s "[[Sexiest Man Alive]]" in 1986,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20237714_20154495_20349092,00.html |title=All the Sexiest Man Alive Covers: 1986 |work=People |date=November 3, 2009 |access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref> and is best known for his roles in the television series ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'', ''[[Chicago Hope]]'', and ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''. He married actress [[Pam Dawber]] in 1987, and they have two sons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Harmon to Receive Walk of Fame Star|author=Lindsey Baguio|publisher=Hollywood Patch|date=October 1, 2012|url=http://patch.com/california/hollywood/mark-harmon-to-receive-walk-of-fame-star}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=From UCLA To NCIS: Mark Harmon Still The Quarterback|publisher=Pac-12 Conference|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2015|url=http://pac-12.com/article/2011/05/16/ucla-ncis-mark-harmon-still-quarterback|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219022523/http://pac-12.com/article/2011/05/16/ucla-ncis-mark-harmon-still-quarterback|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

==Death==
On March 15, 1990, Harmon suffered a heart attack at the Amanda Travel Agency in West Los Angeles after winning a golf tournament at [[Bel Air Country Club]]. He was taken to [[UCLA Medical Center]], where he died at age 70.<ref name=LAT/><ref>{{cite news|title=Former Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon has died|newspaper=Bangor Daily News (AP story)|date=March 17, 1990|page=21|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19900316&id=la5JAAAAIBAJ&pg=1135,561190}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Football star Tom Harmon dies at 70|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=March 16, 1990|page=2C|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19900316&id=gDgdAAAAIBAJ&pg=4685,108311}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [[List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans]]
* [[University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1553}}
* {{Heisman|tom-harmon}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=tommy-harmon |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=H/HarmTo20 |rotoworld= }}
* {{IMDb name|0363567}}

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{{Heisman Winners}}
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{{1940 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{NFL NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{1941 NFL Draft}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harmon, Tom}}
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[[Category:Harmon–Nelson family|Tom Harmon]]
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