Goose Gonsoulin obit

Goose Gonsoulin passes away

 

He was not on the list.

Legendary Bronco Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin passed away Monday morning. He was 76.

The safety, inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in its 1984 inaugural class, was a big figure in the team's history, as well as in professional football's.

Gonsoulin still holds the record for most interceptions in a season by a Bronco with 11, which came during his rookie season. He's also second in team history in total interceptions with 43. With four interceptions in one game against Buffalo in 1960, Gonsoulin is tied for first in the NFL for most picks in a single game.

One of the original Broncos as a member of the team from its first season in 1960, Gonsoulin was a two-time First-Team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. He was also named to the second-team AFL All-Time Team.

As a Bronco, Gonsoulin appeared in 94 games, playing from 1960-66. He was a captain at Baylor before being drafted in the 17th round of the 1960 NFL Draft at No. 203 overall. He was born June 7, 1938 in Port Arthur, Texas.


Gonsoulin was a Sporting News AFL All-League player in 1960, 1962, and 1963, and an AFL Western Division All-Star in 1961, 1964 and 1966. His amazing durability and toughness enabled him to start 61 consecutive games at one point in his career. He was also the captain of his college team at Baylor. Gonsoulin was selected to the second unit of the American Football League All-Time Team.


After a scintillating career as a safety at Baylor University in the Southwest Conference, Gonsoulin was drafted by the Dallas Texans, who later became the Kansas City Chiefs. However, shortly before the inaugural season he was traded to Denver.

The Broncos were desperately in need of defensive strength and Gonsoulin was the top choice to glue the Denver secondary together. “Goose” had been an All-League player and captain of the Baylor Bears. He particularly specialized in interceptions, deadly tackling and the safety blitz.

From day one as a Bronco, “Goose” lived up to all expectations. And the sparse following of the Denver professional team was quick to single him out as a super player. He was durable, dependable and daring in roaming the secondary defense like a centerfielder in baseball.

Broncos management must have felt the same as the fans, for he remained with the team through seven seasons, a period which saw wholesale shuffling of personnel created by sheer frustration.

He was chosen All-League in the AFL three times and appeared in six post-season All-Star games. Gonsoulin led the league in career interceptions with 43.

Gonsoulin’s contributions to the Broncos were not forgotten by the fans long after the team had moved from the other side of the tracks to become one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. In 1980, a fan poll chose him on the all-20-year team of Broncos and he came from his South Texas home to be reunited with many old Colorado friends.

Some of his former teammates, coaches, managers and club owners included: Bob Howsam, Frank Filchock, Dean Griffing, Frank Tripucka, Al Carmichael, Bill Jessup, Jack Faulkner, Gerald Phipps, Mac Speedie, Red Miller, Lionel Taylor, Gene Mingo, Mickey Slaughter, Jerry Sturm, Jim Fraser, Willie Brown, Abner Haynes, Cookie Gilchrist, Ray Malavasi, Allan Phipps, Tobi Rote, Bob Scarpitto and John Bramlett.