Frank Bernardi played with the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL from 1955-1957.   A defensive back, he picked off four passes during his NFL stint, and scored one touchdown on a 95-yard punt return.  After spending the 1958 & 1959 seasons out of football, Bernardi, who had played his college ball at the University of Colorado, earned a position on the inaugural Broncos squad.  His AFL career was short-lived, however, as a knee injury essentially ended his career after just six games with the Broncos.

Prior to playing professionally, Frank Bernardi had put together a successful collegiate career in Boulder.  He was in the offensive backfield with Carroll Hardy (later major league baseball player and Broncos front office) and helped lead the Buffalos throughout the Big Seven Conference.

In 2011, The Denver post did a nice retrospective piece on Bernardi’s college career.

Colorado Classics: Frank Bernardi was half of Colorado’s dynamic duo in the 1950s