Al Wistert facts for kids
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| No. 70 | |||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle, Guard, Defensive tackle |
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| Born: | December 28, 1920 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: | March 5, 2016 (aged 95) Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S. |
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| High school: | Chicago (IL) Schurz | ||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1943 / Round: 5 / Pick: 32 | ||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Albert Alexander "Ox" Wistert (December 28, 1920 – March 5, 2016) was an amazing American football player. He played as an offensive tackle, guard, and defensive tackle. He spent his entire nine-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Wistert was a true leader for the Eagles. He became their team captain and was chosen for the NFL's very first Pro Bowl. He was also named to the league's All-Pro team eight times. This means he was considered one of the best players in the NFL for many years!
Before joining the pros, Wistert played college football at the University of Michigan. He is famous for being one of three brothers—along with Whitey and Alvin—who were all named All-American tackles at Michigan. All three brothers were later honored in the College Football Hall of Fame. The Wistert brothers all wore jersey number 11 at Michigan. This number was so special that it was retired by the Michigan Wolverines football program.
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Early Life and Family
Albert Wistert was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family came from Lithuania. His father, Kazimer Wistert, was a brave police officer who sadly died while working.
The story of the Wistert brothers playing at Michigan is quite interesting. It started when Whitey's high school friend, John Kowalik, visited the University of Michigan. Whitey Wistert was working in a factory at the time. Kowalik invited Whitey to come along on his visit to Ann Arbor. That's how the amazing Wistert football legacy at Michigan began!
College Football Star
After finishing high school, Albert Wistert became the second of his brothers to play for Michigan. He wore the famous number 11, just like his brothers. He played from 1940 to 1942.
In 1942, he was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was also named the team's MVP that year. He even played in the 1943 East–West Shrine Game, which is a special game for top college players.
Wistert is remembered for his great plays, especially in a 1942 game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. Because of his incredible college career, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1968. Later, in 1981, he and his brothers were honored in the University of Michigan Hall of Honor.
During Wistert's three years on the team, Michigan had a great record of 20 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. In 1940, their only loss was to the national champion Minnesota Golden Gophers. Wistert also served as captain of the College All-star team. This team beat the NFL champion Washington Redskins 27–7 in Chicago. Albert was the only Wistert brother who didn't play on a national championship team at Michigan.
Professional Football Career
The Philadelphia Eagles picked Albert Wistert in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He signed a good contract to play for them. He quickly proved his worth, earning All-Pro honors in eight of his nine seasons. This means he was consistently one of the best players in the league.
Wistert was a "two-way player," meaning he played both offense and defense. He spent his entire nine-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. For one season during World War II, the Eagles teamed up with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
During much of Wistert's career, the NFL did not have All-Star games like the Pro Bowl. This makes it hard to compare him to modern players who are often judged by how many Pro Bowl invitations they receive. However, his many All-Pro selections show how talented he was.
Wistert was the Eagles' captain for five years in a row, from 1946 to 1950. He was named All-Pro in each of those seasons. In his second-to-last season, he was selected for the very first Pro Bowl. In his final season, he recovered three fumbles.
The Eagles won the 1948 and 1949 NFL Championships with Wistert on the team. These were special wins because they were the only back-to-back NFL championships won by shutout!
After he retired in 1952, the Eagles honored him by retiring his number 70. This means no other Eagles player will ever wear that number. His jersey number is one of only nine retired by the Eagles. In 2009, Wistert was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.
Later Life
After his football career, Albert Wistert became a very successful life insurance salesman. He worked in that field for 40 years! He lived in places like California and Grants Pass, Oregon after he retired.
He was married to his wife Ellie for 61 years. They had three daughters named Pam, Dianna, and Kathy, and three grandchildren. At one point, he even coached football at Riverside High School while still playing professionally.
Albert Wistert passed away on March 5, 2016, in Grants Pass, Oregon. He was 95 years old.
See Also
- List of Michigan Wolverines football All-Americans
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
