Gene Knutson, 75; Was DE For Green Bay Packers
Bill Schenley
FROM: The Green Bay Press-Gazette ~
Gene Knutson, a backup defensive end for the
Green Bay Packers in 1954 and 1956, died Saturday
in Cassopolis, Mich. He was 75 and had been battling
cancer, according to the Beloit News.
He was a four-sport star at Beloit Memorial High
School in the late 1940s. As a senior, he was an all-state
football player in 1949 and an all-state basketball player
in 1950. He was a member of Beloit's state champion
American Legion baseball team in 1947 and its state
champion track and field team in 1949.
Knutson went on to play offensive end and defensive
end at the University of Michigan and was drafted by the
Packers in the 10th round of the 1954 NFL draft, the
111th player chosen.
Wearing No. 81, he played in 18 games for the Packers,
who went 4-8 in each of his seasons. He missed the 1955
season with a knee injury. He retired after the 1956 season
because of knee problems.
Knutson once described his time in the NFL in an
interview with the Beloit News: "It was more of a business
-- dog eat dog. When I played, there were only 12 teams
and the (roster) limit was 33. It was a lot harder to get on
a pro roster than it is now. I would love to be coming out
of college now."
After leaving the NFL, Knutson was a teacher in South Bend,
Ind., then went into business. He founded the NFL Alumni
chapter in South Bend.
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Stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KnutGe20.htm