Hall of Fame Defensive End Ernie Stautner..The very embodiment of toughness.
Ernie Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September, 13, 1969, his first year of eligibility. Stautner is the only player to ever have his number (70) officially retired by the Steelers.
Stautner was elected to the Steelers 50th anniversary team in 1982. Stautner was elected posthumously by the Pittsburgh Steeler fans to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in November 2007.
Stautner played his entire career with the Steelers from 1950 to 1963. Despite being small even for his day at 6-1 and 235 pounds, he distinguished himself as one of the best defensive linemen of his era as he became the cornerstone of the Steelers bruising defense. Stautner was selected to nine Pro Bowls in his twelve-year career and only missed six games in 12 years. He also made all-NFL in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959. He retired as the career leader in safeties with 3 and ranked third in fumble recoveries with 23. Occasionally Stautner would play offensive guard for Pittsburg when needed.
Ernie is a member of the 1950s NFL All Decade Team.
He enjoyed a long nearly 30 year year coaching career after retiring as a player. He was an assistant under Tom Landry in Dallas from 1966 to 1988 and was the Cowboy's Defensive Coordinator from 1973 to 1988. He coached with the Dever Broncos defense in the early 90s before returning to his birthplace of Germany. From 1995 to 1997, he was head coach of The Frankfurt Galaxy, winning the World Bowl in 1995 for this NFL Europe team.
Ernie's true worth on a football field could never be measured in lines in a record manual, for statistics can't measure such assets as competitive nature, team spirit, grim determination, and the will to win. Extremely resilient, the native of Bavaria missed only six games during his entire NFL career. That’s not to say he didn’t suffer a number injuries. His maladies included broken ribs, shoulders, hands, and a nose broken too many times to count.
When Ernie finally retired, the Steelers honored him by retiring his No. 70 jersey. It was something the team didn’t ordinarily do. But then, Ernie Stautner was hardly ordinary. A “throwback” to another time, Stautner was considered by teammates and opponents alike, as one of the toughest competitors the game ever produced.
The great Ernie Stautner died at a Carbondale, Colorado nursing home at age 80 from complications of Alzheimer's disease on Feburary 16th 2006. He is buried in Texas.
I never saw him play in a live game but watched him on TV many times on a rough and tumble Pittsburg Steeler team in the very late 50s and early to mid 60s.
Those Steeler teams never did well in the win loss column but had some very coloful and rugged playes led by Ernie Stautner. There was legendary QB Bobby Layne at the end of his Hall of Fame career, HOFer John Henry Johnson, a bruising fullback, Tom The Bomb Tracy, Johnny "Blood" Mcnally, Buddy Dial, Mike Sandusky, and Preston carpenter among others. When opposing teams played Stautner's Steelers they usually won but also knew they were in a real football game.
wil.
Ernie Stautner was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September, 13, 1969, his first year of eligibility. Stautner is the only player to ever have his number (70) officially retired by the Steelers.
Stautner was elected to the Steelers 50th anniversary team in 1982. Stautner was elected posthumously by the Pittsburgh Steeler fans to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in November 2007.
Stautner played his entire career with the Steelers from 1950 to 1963. Despite being small even for his day at 6-1 and 235 pounds, he distinguished himself as one of the best defensive linemen of his era as he became the cornerstone of the Steelers bruising defense. Stautner was selected to nine Pro Bowls in his twelve-year career and only missed six games in 12 years. He also made all-NFL in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959. He retired as the career leader in safeties with 3 and ranked third in fumble recoveries with 23. Occasionally Stautner would play offensive guard for Pittsburg when needed.
Ernie is a member of the 1950s NFL All Decade Team.
He enjoyed a long nearly 30 year year coaching career after retiring as a player. He was an assistant under Tom Landry in Dallas from 1966 to 1988 and was the Cowboy's Defensive Coordinator from 1973 to 1988. He coached with the Dever Broncos defense in the early 90s before returning to his birthplace of Germany. From 1995 to 1997, he was head coach of The Frankfurt Galaxy, winning the World Bowl in 1995 for this NFL Europe team.
Ernie's true worth on a football field could never be measured in lines in a record manual, for statistics can't measure such assets as competitive nature, team spirit, grim determination, and the will to win. Extremely resilient, the native of Bavaria missed only six games during his entire NFL career. That’s not to say he didn’t suffer a number injuries. His maladies included broken ribs, shoulders, hands, and a nose broken too many times to count.
When Ernie finally retired, the Steelers honored him by retiring his No. 70 jersey. It was something the team didn’t ordinarily do. But then, Ernie Stautner was hardly ordinary. A “throwback” to another time, Stautner was considered by teammates and opponents alike, as one of the toughest competitors the game ever produced.
The great Ernie Stautner died at a Carbondale, Colorado nursing home at age 80 from complications of Alzheimer's disease on Feburary 16th 2006. He is buried in Texas.
I never saw him play in a live game but watched him on TV many times on a rough and tumble Pittsburg Steeler team in the very late 50s and early to mid 60s.
Those Steeler teams never did well in the win loss column but had some very coloful and rugged playes led by Ernie Stautner. There was legendary QB Bobby Layne at the end of his Hall of Fame career, HOFer John Henry Johnson, a bruising fullback, Tom The Bomb Tracy, Johnny "Blood" Mcnally, Buddy Dial, Mike Sandusky, and Preston carpenter among others. When opposing teams played Stautner's Steelers they usually won but also knew they were in a real football game.
wil.
True and a great honor for Ernie Stautner but in fairness to Steeler greats to come along after I would like to add although the Pittsburgh Steelers no longer officially retire numbers, the following numbers have not been reissued since the retirement of the listed players and it is widely known that the unofficial policy of the Steelers is that these numbers will not ever be reissued.:
#12 Terry Bradshaw
#32 Franco Harris
#36 Jerome Bettis
#47 Mel Blount
#52 Mike Webster
#58 Jack Lambert
#59 Jack Ham
#63 Dermontti Dawson
#75 Mean Joe Greene
wil.
:think2::think2:
On November 27, 2005, Ward became the Steelers all-time leading receiver with his 538th catch against the Browns, overcoming John Stallworth's record. The Steelers won 34-21.
Ward is also renowned as a terrific post-season receiver, accumulating 57 receptions, 761 yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns in 10 post-season appearances. On February 5, 2006, Ward was named MVP in the Superbowl.
FH
Bullett Bill Dudley was one of the 60 minute men back in the 40s
Hall of Famer Bill Duley with football as a Steeler in 1946.
During the 1946 season, Bill Dudley of the Steelers led the league in rushing, punt returns and interceptions. He was also tops in “lateral passing,” which was its own statistical category at the time. In essence, he won a “Quadruple Crown,” an accomplishment that is unprecedented in football annals.
Unfortunately for the at the time the cash poor Steelers, they traded him to Detroit after the 46 season which was only his his third as a Steeler.
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Hall of Fame honors:
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Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, Dudley stands as a reminder of the NFL’s glorious past, when hundreds of men sacrificed part of their careers to serve their country. He also was a special player long before specialization. The Cold, Hard Football Facts hail Bill Dudley as pigskin nobility – and the last man to wear football’s Triple Crown.
Hall of Famer Bill Duley with football as a Steeler in 1946.
During the 1946 season, Bill Dudley of the Steelers led the league in rushing, punt returns and interceptions. He was also tops in “lateral passing,” which was its own statistical category at the time. In essence, he won a “Quadruple Crown,” an accomplishment that is unprecedented in football annals.
Unfortunately for the at the time the cash poor Steelers, they traded him to Detroit after the 46 season which was only his his third as a Steeler.
Achievements<!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="text" -->
- <LI class=text>Dudley was the Steelers first round draft pick in 1942. <LI class=text>He was inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. <LI class=text>In 1946 he became the NFL’s first and only Triple Crown Winner, leading the league in rushing (146 rushes, 604 yards), punt returns (27 returns, 385 yards, 14.2-yard average), interceptions (10 interceptions returned for 242 yards) and lateral passing. <LI class=text>He made the All-Pro team in 1942 and 1946. <LI class=text>In 1946 he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. <LI class=text>Dudley is the only player in football history to receive MVP in college, service and pro sectors. <LI class=text>Played on the Pittsburg Steelers (1942, 1945-1946), Detroit Lions (1947-1949) and Washington Redskins (1950-1951, 1953) during his 9 seasons with the NFL.
- Gained 8,147 combined net yards, scored 484 points and had 23 interceptions in his career.
Hall of Fame honors:
- <LI class=text>Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.
- Inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1966.
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Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, Dudley stands as a reminder of the NFL’s glorious past, when hundreds of men sacrificed part of their careers to serve their country. He also was a special player long before specialization. The Cold, Hard Football Facts hail Bill Dudley as pigskin nobility – and the last man to wear football’s Triple Crown.
