33 Facts About Gaynell Tinsley

Gaynell Charles "Gus" Tinsley was an American football end and coach.

Gaynell Tinsley played for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League from 1937 to 1938 and in 1940.

Gaynell Tinsley played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he was a consensus All-American.

Gaynell Tinsley was drafted in the second round of the 1937 NFL draft by the Cardinals, with whom he was an All-NFL selection in 1937 and 1938.

Gaynell Tinsley later served as the head football coach at LSU from 1948 to 1954.

Gaynell Tinsley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956 as a player.

Gaynell Tinsley was born in Ruple, Louisiana and raised in Homer, Louisiana in the northern part of the state.

Gaynell Tinsley attended Louisiana State University where he played football and baseball and was selected as the captain of both teams.

Gaynell Tinsley was considered one of the greatest receivers in college football, earning consensus All-American honors in both 1935 and 1936.

In 1936, Gaynell Tinsley repeated as a first-team All-American with each of these publications and received the first-team designation from the Central Press Association, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Gaynell Tinsley concluded his college career by playing in the Chicago College All-Star Game, an annual game between college all-stars and an NFL team.

Gaynell Tinsley is widely considered to be among the finest athletes to ever play at LSU.

Gaynell Tinsley was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals as the 12th overall pick in the 1937 NFL draft.

Gaynell Tinsley played for the Cardinals for three years: in 1937,1938 and 1940.

Gaynell Tinsley ranked among the NFL's 1937 leaders in several categories, including 36 receptions, 675 receiving yards, 677 total yards from scrimmage, five receiving touchdowns, 18.8 yards per reception and 61.4 receiving yards per game.

Gaynell Tinsley twice set the record for the longest pass reception in NFL history.

Gaynell Tinsley set the mark first in 1937, when he caught a 97-yard pass from Pat Coffee for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears.

Gaynell Tinsley broke his own record the following season, against the Cleveland Rams in the Cardinals' final game, with a 98-yard touchdown reception from Doug Russell.

Several NFL receivers have since recorded 99-yard receptions, but Gaynell Tinsley's 98-yarder remains a Cardinals franchise record.

In 1938, Gaynell Tinsley continued as one of the league's top receivers.

Gaynell Tinsley caught passes in nine of the Cardinals' eleven games during the season.

Gaynell Tinsley ranked among the 1938 league leaders with 516 receiving yards and 46.9 yards per game.

Gaynell Tinsley was again selected as a first-team All-NFL player, this time receiving the honor from Pro Football Writers, the NFL, and Collyers Eye magazine.

In March 1939, Gaynell Tinsley signed a contract to play professional minor league baseball for the Marshall Tigers of the East Texas League.

Gaynell Tinsley left the Cardinals a week into training camp to take up a head coaching position at Haynesville High School in Haynesville, Louisiana, replacing Cecil Crowley.

Gaynell Tinsley returned to the NFL and played in seven games in 1940 before he suffered a torn ligament in his left knee while making a tackle against the Cleveland Rams, which effectively ended his season.

When Gaynell Tinsley retired, he ranked fourth in NFL history in pass receptions, despite having played only three seasons of professional football.

Gaynell Tinsley then served as an assistant football coach at LSU through the 1947 season.

In 1948, LSU's long-time football coach, Bernie Moore, retired, and Gaynell Tinsley was promoted to replace his former mentor.

Gaynell Tinsley became the first person to participate in the Sugar Bowl as both a player and a head coach.

Gaynell Tinsley was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.

Gaynell Tinsley was elected as one of three charter members to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1959.

Gaynell Tinsley died in 2002 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at age 87.