Ernie Stautner

Ernest Alfred Stautner (April 20, 1925 – February 16, 2006) was a German-American professional football player and coach who played defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born on April 20, 1925, in Prienzing near Cham, Bavaria, Germany, Stautner immigrated with his family to the Albany, New York, area—Albany or nearby East Greenbush—at the age of three. He attended Columbia High School and the Vincentian Institute. He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1946, and at age 17 fought in the Battle of Okinawa.

After the war, Stautner enrolled at Boston College, where he was a four-year starter as an offensive and defensive tackle and was selected All-New England and All-Catholic. He was named a third-team Central Press All-American in 1948 and also handled the team's kickoff and extra-point duties. One of his teammates was Art Donovan, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Stautner played his NFL career as a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later served as a coach for the Steelers, the Washington Redskins, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969.