[1][2] He attended the University of Santa Clara (class of 1953), majoring in history,[1] and was a captain of the varsity football team in his senior year.

[4] Prior to the season starting, the Browns completed a fifteen-player trade—which set the NFL record for the largest trade ever executed—that sent Nagler and nine other players to the Baltimore Colts.

While posted at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, lieutenant Nagler helped coach the base football team to a perfect 12-0 record and the All-Service Championship,[8] winning the 1954 Poinsettia Bowl.

[12] He was moved to the Cleveland Browns as part of a four-player New Year's Eve trade that included Steelers quarterback Len Dawson.

[14] Following retirement from the NFL, Nagler worked in various aspects of the farming and agriculture industry, splitting time between southern California and the Hillsboro, Oregon area.