<sod>In January 1945, the [[Los Angeles Rams|Cleveland Rams]] selected Hirsch in the first round (fifth overall pick) of the [[1945 NFL Draft]].<ref name=PFR/> However, in May, he announced that he would not sign a contract with the Rams, indicating that he intended to return to the University of Wisconsin in the fall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elroy Hirsch Refuses To Sign Contract With Cleveland Club|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=May 28, 1945|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7080797/elroy_hirsch_refuses_to_sign_contract/}}</ref><eod>
<sod>In January 1945, the [[Los Angeles Rams|Cleveland Rams]] selected Hirsch in the first round (fifth overall pick) of the [[1945 NFL Draft]].<ref name=PFR/> However, in May, he announced that he would not sign a contract with the Rams, indicating that he intended to return to the University of Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elroy Hirsch Refuses To Sign Contract With Cleveland Club|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|date=May 28, 1945|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7080797/elroy_hirsch_refuses_to_sign_contract/}}</ref> He remained with the Marine Corps in the fall of 1945 and played for the Marine Corps football team at the [[Marine Corps Air Station El Toro]] in California. In September 1945, he scored four touchdowns for the El Toro team in a game against the NFL's [[Los Angeles Bulldogs]].<ref>{{cite news|title=El Toro Marines Swamp Bulldogs|newspaper=Nevada State Journal|date=September 23, 1945|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7080900/el_toro_marines_swamp_bulldogs/}}</ref><eod>