Goose Gonsoulin facts for kids
| No. 23, 35 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Safety | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | June 7, 1938 Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
||
| Died: | September 8, 2014 (aged 76) Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Baylor | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1960 / Round: 17 / Pick: 203 | ||
| AFL draft: | 1960 / Round: Second Selections (by the Dallas Texans) |
||
| Career history | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
|
|||
| Player stats at PFR | |||
Austin William "Goose" Gonsoulin (June 7, 1938 – September 8, 2014) was a talented American football player. He played as a safety in two major leagues: the American Football League (AFL) for the Denver Broncos and the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers. Goose grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. In high school, he was a top athlete in both football and track.
Contents
Goose Gonsoulin's Football Journey
Goose Gonsoulin was known for his amazing skills on the football field. He played a key role in the early days of the American Football League. His career was full of exciting plays and impressive records.
Early Life and College Football
Before becoming a pro, Goose played college football for the Baylor Bears. He was a versatile player, meaning he could play both offense as a receiver and defense as a defensive back. In 1959, his teammates chose him to be the captain of the Baylor team. This showed how much they respected his leadership.
Joining the Pros: Denver Broncos
In 1960, Goose was drafted by the Dallas Texans. However, he was soon traded to the Denver Broncos just before the AFL's first season began. This trade turned out to be a great move for both Goose and the Broncos. He quickly became a star player for the team.
Becoming an AFL Star
Goose Gonsoulin made history by getting the very first interception in the AFL. This happened in the league's first-ever game against the Boston Patriots. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He had an incredible start, with seven interceptions in his first three games. His 11 interceptions in 1960 are still a record for the Denver Broncos. He also holds a team record for four interceptions in a single game, which he achieved on September 18, 1960.
Goose was recognized as an All-League player multiple times. He was also chosen as an AFL All-Star in several seasons. Even in 1966, when he didn't get any interceptions, he was still named an All-Star. This shows how important he was to his team. He was known for his toughness and played in 61 games in a row without missing a start.
Amazing Achievements and Legacy
When Goose finished his time with the Broncos, he was the AFL's all-time leader in interceptions, with 40. By the end of his career in 1967, he had a total of 46 interceptions. This placed him among the top players in football history for that statistic.
His incredible talent led to him being chosen for the second unit of the American Football League All-Time Team. This team honors the best players from the AFL's history. In 1984, Goose Gonsoulin was honored again when he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away on September 8, 2014.
See also
- List of American Football League players
