24 Facts About Ernie Stautner

1.

Ernest Alfred Stautner was a German-American professional football player and coach.

2.

Ernie Stautner played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

3.

Ernie Stautner served as a coach for the Steelers, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys.

4.

Ernie Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

5.

Ernie Stautner attended Columbia High School and the Vincentian Institute.

6.

Ernie Stautner served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

7.

Ernie Stautner handled the team's kickoff and extra point duties.

8.

Ernie Stautner earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1950.

9.

Ernie Stautner was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1950 NFL Draft.

10.

Ernie Stautner played his entire career with the Steelers, from 1950 to 1963.

11.

Ernie Stautner was named to nine Pro Bowls in his 14-year career and only missed six games.

12.

Ernie Stautner retired as the career leader in safeties with three and ranked third in fumble recoveries with 23.

13.

Ernie Stautner moved to defensive end in the later years of his career and saw spot service at offensive guard.

14.

Russell looks down and sees that Ernie Stautner has a compound fracture of the thumb; one of his thumb bones is visibly sticking out of his skin.

15.

On October 25,1964, Ernie Stautner became the first player to have his number formally retired by the Steelers.

16.

Ernie Stautner was elected to the Steelers 50th anniversary team in 1982 and posthumously by the Pittsburgh Steeler fans to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in November 2007.

17.

Ernie Stautner was inducted into the inaugural class of the Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2017.

18.

On September 13,1969, Ernie Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

19.

Ernie Stautner was instrumental in the development of defensive players such as Randy White and Ed "Too Tall" Jones.

20.

Ernie Stautner contributed to the emergence of the team's famed "Doomsday" and "Doomsday II" defenses.

21.

Ernie Stautner stayed on with the Cowboys from 1988 to 1989 as a scout.

22.

Ernie Stautner coached the Dallas Texans, an Arena Football League team in their first season of play in 1990, guiding the franchise to an appearance in the ArenaBowl IV and earning the league's Coach-of-the-Year award.

23.

Ernie Stautner was the defensive line coach for the Denver Broncos from 1991 to 1994.

24.

Ernie Stautner died at a Carbondale, Colorado nursing home at age 80 from complications of Alzheimer's disease.