the brunt of the Giants' victorious offense in the famous "gumshoe game" against the Chicago Bears in 1934. In his football career, he blocked for Benny Friedman, Red Grange and Johnny Blood (McNally). He played in 111 NFL games and scored 108 points in NFL play, including 24 extra points, 12 rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and one interception returned for a touchdown. Football coach and service in World War II New York Giants In 1936, he was hired as an assistant coach for the New York Giants, a position he held until 1941. In December 1939, with Giants' head coach Steve Owen absent due to the death of his mother, Molenda led the Giants in the 1939 NFC Championship Game against the Packers. The Packers beat the Giants in Milwaukee, 27-0, to win the title. In 1941, Molenda worked as a baseball umpire in the International League. Naval service in World War II With the U.S. entry into World War II, Molenda enlisted in the Navy in early 1942 as a chief petty officer. After duty at Redlands University in charge of the Navy's physical education program, Molenda was promoted to a lieutenant and assigned in the September 1943 as the head coach of the football team at the naval training station in San Diego. His Navy team defeated both USC and UCLA. The defeat of USC, by a 10-7 score, drew attention as the Trojans had been undefeated front-ranking team that had not been scored on in the first six games of the season. In January 1944, Molenda was shipped overseas to active duty in the Pacific where he took part in the Hollandia and Leyte invasions. Molenda later recalled that he was in the Philippines "going on 28 months." He was supposed to have been rotated at 18 months, but the Navy lost his records and he was stuck. One day, George Halas visited and asked Molenda if he would like to return home. Molenda said yes, and two weeks later Molenda was back in the United States. He noted, "That's why I like George Halas." Green Bay Packers In the spring of 1947, Molenda was living in Manhattan Beach, California and working as a baseball umpire. At that time, Curly Lambeau hired Molenda to return to Green Bay as the Packers' backfield coach. In March 1948, the Packers signed Molenda for a second season as the