Ernie Stautner

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Stautner was born in Prienzing near Cham, Bavaria, Germany. His family immigrated to Albany or nearby East Greenbush, New York, when he was three. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and turned 20 while fighting in the Battle of Okinawa. At Boston College, he was a four-year starter as an offensive and defensive tackle, handled kickoff and extra point duties, and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1950. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1950 NFL draft and played his entire 14-year career with them. Despite being small for his day at 6 ft 1 in and 235 pounds, he became one of the best defensive linemen of his era. He was named to nine Pro Bowls, made All-NFL in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, and won the NFL's Best Lineman Award in 1957. He retired as the career leader in safeties with three and ranked third in fumble recoveries with 23. He moved to defensive end later in his career and also saw spot service at offensive guard. The Steelers never made the playoffs during his career. After playing, he coached for the Steelers, Redskins, and Cowboys, and was defensive coordinator for the Cowboys from 1973 to 1988. He later coached the Dallas Texans of the Arena Football League, the Denver Broncos defensive line, and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe, winning World Bowl in 1995.

In Their Own Story

Stautner's career was defined by individual excellence on teams that never made the playoffs. The Steelers were only above .500 three times during his tenure, yet he earned nine Pro Bowl selections and four All-NFL honors. He retired as the career leader in safeties with three and ranked third in fumble recoveries with 23. In his last three years, he was unofficially credited with 15.5 sacks, including eight in 1962 at age 37. The NFL did not recognize quarterback sacks as an official statistic until 1982, long after Stautner retired. He moved to defensive end in the later years of his career and also saw spot service at offensive guard. On October 25, 1964, Stautner became the first player to have his number (70) formally retired by the Steelers.

Reader's Guide

Stautner's number 70 was the first formally retired by the Steelers on October 25, 1964. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on September 13, 1969, in his first year of eligibility. He was elected to the Steelers 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1982 and posthumously to the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in November 2007. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2017. He also was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973.

Did You Know?

• Stautner finished his career with three career safeties and 23 recovered fumbles.
• He only missed six games during his 14-year career despite multiple cracked ribs, nose fractures, broken fingers, and two broken shoulders.
• Before a 1958 game against the Browns, a doctor mistakenly injected him with 1,200 milligrams of Demerol instead of Novocain.
• He once broke Tom Landry's nose when Landry was filling in at quarterback for the New York Giants.
• Stautner appeared in a Miller Lite Beer commercial in 1973 alongside Matt Snell, Mickey Spillane, and Buddy Rich.