Burt Gustafson

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
6 37-44-5 45.93% 0-1 0.00%

Biography

Career Summary

Burt Gustafson was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1978, finishing his career as the special teams coach of the Green Bay Packers. Over his six years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 37-44-5.

Gustafson had a decorated career as a collegiate athlete for Northern Michigan University. In addition to a decorated football career, awarded the team MVP in 1949, he was the first 12 letter-winner in school history and began the university swimming program.

Table of Contents

High School Coaching

Upon his graduation from NMU in 1950, Gustafson coached for six years at three area high schools: Cedarville (1950-1951), Escanaba (1952-1953), and Battle Creek (1954-1955). After his high school coaching years, he would return to his alma mater.

College Coaching

Northern Michigan University

In 1956, Gustafson returned to NMU as the end coach under head coach Lloyd Eaton. The season was very successful, as the team finished 7-0-1. Even though Eaton left after one season, NMU continued to have successful seasons. Gustafson coached at NMU for seven seasons, and during this time the Wildcats won more than 72% of their games, which was the greatest 7-year stretch in program history (and wouldn't be beaten until 1981). After the 1962 season, Gustafson joined Eaton at the University of Wyoming.

University of Wyoming

In 1963, Gustafson moved west to join Eaton at Wyoming as the defensive backfield coach. During his time as an assistant coach, the Cowboys won three Western Athletic Conference (WAC) titles, going 27-5 during a three year stretch where they competed in two bowl games and finished the 1967 season ranked #6 in the nation. After the 1970 season where the team struggled to a 1-9 record, Eaton was fired and Gustafson moved to professional football.

NFL Coaching

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers were the only team he worked for at the professional level. For the 1971 season, Gustafson broke into the NFL as linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers under new coach Dan Devine. However, his tenure with Devine was not as successful as the team hoped. From 1971 until 1974, the Packers only made one playoff appearance (1972) and they lost their only game. Devine and Gustafson did not return for the 1975 season.

Gustafson's tenure with the Packers was not over yet, though. In 1977, he returned as the special teams coach for two seasons under head coach (and former Packers QB) Bart Starr. Unfortunately, his second coaching tenure with the team was even less successful than the first. The team did not make the playoffs either season. After the 1978 season, Gustafson left the sideline and joined the team in a front office role as a personnel director. Gustafson helped manage administrative duties for the team, figured out logistics for team travel, scouted the upcoming opponent, and assisted the team during free-agent tryouts. After six seasons in the front office, Gustafson left the Packers.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
1978 Green Bay Packers Special Teams Coach 8-7-1 0-0
1977 Green Bay Packers Special Teams Coach 4-10-0 0-0
1974 Green Bay Packers Linebackers Coach 6-8-0 0-0
1973 Green Bay Packers Linebackers Coach 5-7-2 0-0
1972 Green Bay Packers Linebackers Coach 10-4-0 0-1
1971 Green Bay Packers Linebackers Coach 4-8-2 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts