He played college football at the University of Minnesota and was selected in the 32nd round of the 1945 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.
[citation needed] Instead, the very next year, Nolander joined the roster of the Los Angeles Dons in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
The 1948 season brought similar success, as Nolander earned First-team All-AAFC honors for the second consecutive year.
[1] Nolander was a key contributor that helped the Los Angeles Dons achieve success in 1940s.
As a two-time First-Team All-AAFC selection, Nolander was recognized one of the standout players of the AAFC years.