Bill Kuusisto

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Bill Kuusisto

| image = Bill Kuusisto.jpg

| number = 52, 45

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|4|26|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Herman, Michigan, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1973|5|28|1918|4|16}}

| death_place = Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 228

| high_school = Minneapolis (MN) Roosevelt

| college = Minnesota

| draftyear = 1941

| draftround = 8

| draftpick = 66

| pastteams =

Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1941|1946}})

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 54

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 25

| pfr = K/KuusBi20

}}

William E. Kuusisto (April 26, 1918 – May 28, 1973) was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web | title = Packers.com - Bill Kuusisto | work = Packers.com | url = http://nfl.packers.com/history/all_time_roster/player/kuusisto_bill_1941-46/ | accessdate = January 2, 2009 }} Kuusisto played collegiate ball for the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1941 NFL draft. He played professionally for six seasons and retired in 1946. Kuusisto was also a professional wrestler.

Early life and education

Kuusisto was born on April 26, 1918 in Herman, Michigan and attended Roosevelt High School in Virginia, Minnesota. He then played collegiate ball for the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin.{{cite web |title=Bill Kuusisto Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KuusBi20.htm |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107175232/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KuusBi20.htm |archivedate=7 January 2009 |accessdate=January 2, 2009 |work=Pro Football Reference}}

Football career

Kuusisto was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1941 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1941 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1941/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He won the 1944 NFL Championship with the Packers.{{Cite news |date=1944-12-16 |title=December 16, 1944 - Packers to Clash With Giants for Pro Grid Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-december-16-194/17690769/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} He continued to play for the Packers until he retired in 1946.

Wrestling career

Kuusisto was also a professional wrestler.{{cite news |date=May 30, 1973 |title=Former Packer Guard Bill Kuusisto Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112672422/bill-kuusisto-1918-1973/ |access-date=November 7, 2022 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |location=Green Bay, WI |page=31 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news |date=May 29, 1973 |title=Kuusisto, Ex-Gopher Star, Pro Mat Figure, Dies at 55 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112725868/bill-kuusisto-1918-1973/ |access-date=November 8, 2022 |work=The Minneapolis Star |location=Minneapolis, MN |page=40 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Later life and death

Kuusisto died of a heart attack in Paynesville, Minnesota on May 28, 1973, at the age of 55.

References

External links

[http://www.nfl.com/player/billkuusisto/2518932/profile Bill Kuusisto, G at NFL.com]

Category:1918 births

Category:1973 deaths

Category:American football guards

Category:Green Bay Packers players

Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers football players

Category:Wisconsin Badgers football players

Category:People from Baraga County, Michigan

Category:Players of American football from Michigan

Category:American people of Finnish descent

Category:Roosevelt High School (Minnesota) alumni

Category:20th-century American sportsmen