George Musso
No. 16 | |
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Position: | Guard, Offensive tackle |
Personal information | |
Born: | Collinsville, Illinois, U.S. | April 8, 1910
Died: | September 5, 2000 Edwardsville, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 90)
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight: | 262 lb (119 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Collinsville (IL) |
College: | Millikin |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
George Francis Musso (April 8, 1910 – September 5, 2000) was an American professional football player who spent his entire 12-year career as a guard and offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Early life
Musso was the son of a coal miner who starred in high school sports in Collinsville, Illinois, and was therefore offered an athletic grant to attend James Millikin University. His father, who initially planned to pull him out of school after he completed his "primary" education, grudgingly allowed George to attend college.
College years
Musso attended
NFL years
Halas, who had doubts the small school Musso could make it in the NFL, offered Musso a $90 a game contract (this was half rate for regular players at that time). Musso agreed and, although he struggled at first, became the centerpiece of the Bears line for 12 years. One reason the Bears of that era were called "Monsters of the Midway" was their imposing size—Musso, who played professionally at 270 pounds, was one of the largest Bears and one of the largest players in the league. His teammates called him "Moose." He played offensive tackle until 1937 when he moved to guard. He was the first to win All-NFL at two positions; tackle (1935), and guard (1937). He played middle guard or
After the NFL
Musso retired to Edwardsville, Illinois, and began a restaurant business. He served as the Madison County, Illinois, sheriff and treasurer from the 1950s through the 1970s. He died in his home in Edwardsville in 2000.
References
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- George Musso at Find a Grave