Walt Kiesling

His parents, Wenzel and Barbara Kiesling, were natives of Bohemia who immigrated to the United States in 1890 and 1888, respectively.

Kiesling had a younger brother, Edward.

His father worked as a cutter in a leather works and later in a garment factory.

Kiesling attended Cretin High School, a Catholic high school in Saint Paul where he played football as a tackle.

He remained in Saint Paul for college, attending the University of St. Thomas.

Walter Andrew Kiesling (May 27, 1903 – March 2, 1962) was an American football guard who spent 36 years as a player, coach, and aide with National Football League (NFL) teams.

Kiesling was born in 1903 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kiesling played college football at the University of St. Thomas where he was selected as an all-state player from 1923 to 1925.

He played football at St. Thomas and was selected as an all-state player for three straight years in 1923, 1924, and 1925.

He then played 13 years as a guard (and his first season as a tackle) in the NFL with the Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927),

He graduated in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics.

In the fall of 1926, Kiesling joined the Duluth Eskimos of the National Football League (NFL), appearing in 11 games as a tackle for a team that featured star backs Ernie Nevers and Johnny Blood.

He remained in Duluth for the 1927 season, moving to the guard position and appearing in six games.

Kiesling joined the Pottsville Maroons for the 1927 season, starting 10 games at right guard.

Pottsville Maroons (1928), Chicago Cardinals (1929–1933), Chicago Bears (1934), Green Bay Packers (1935–1936), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1937–1938).

He was a first-team All-Pro in 1929, 1930, and 1932, a second-team All-Pro in 1931, and played for the Packers 1936 NFL championship team.

Kiesling next joined the Chicago Cardinals where he played at the left guard position from 1929 to 1933.

During his prime years with the Cardinals, he was recognized as one of the leading linemen in the NFL.

Kiesling was the Cardinals' heaviest player, ranging from 235 to 260 pounds at six feet, three inches.

He was reputed to be "excellent on defense and unusually shifty on offense."

He was also known as "a smart guard, a sure tackler despite his bulk and adept at rushing a passer."

During his NFL career, Kiesling lived in Saint Paul in the off-season, operating a cafe and playing as a pitcher and outfielder for a semi-pro baseball team.

He also played league baseball in Montana and Canada.

In August 1934, George Halas signed Kiesling to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

Kiesling appeared in 13 games for the Bears, only five as a starter.

In August 1935, Kiesling signed with the Green Bay Packers.

At the time of his signing, the Green Bay Press-Gazette wrote:

"Kiesling is one of the most experienced players in the pro grid game. Practically no one gains through his side of the line consistently ... Kiesling never dissipates, and trains in the year around, remaining always in top condition."

Kiesling appeared in 10 games for the Packers in 1935.

He also appeared in eight games for the 1936 Green Bay Packers team that won the NFL championship.

Kiesling began his coaching career at age 34 during the 1937 season as an assistant coach under Johnny Blood for the Pittsburgh Pirates (renamed the Steelers in 1940).

He was also a player for the Pirates during the 1937 and 1938 seasons, appearing in a total of 12 games.

Kiesling also spent 25 years as a coach or aide for NFL teams, including seven years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers from 1939 to 1942 and 1954 to 1956.

When Blood resigned as head coach after the team lost the first three games of the 1939 season, team owner Art Rooney hired Kiesling as the team's new head coach.

Kiesling led the Pirates to a 1–6–1 record in the final eight games of the 1939 season.

Kiesling led the Steelers to a 2–7–2 record during the 1940 season and was replaced by Bert Bell and Aldo Donelli in 1941.

He led the Steelers to their first winning season in 1942.

He also served as co-head coach of the wartime merger teams known as the Steagles in 1943 and Card-Pitt in 1944 and as line coach for the Pirates (1937–1938), Green Bay Packers (1945–1948), and Steelers (1949–1953).

He retired from active coaching for health reasons in 1957 but remained an aide to the Steelers coaching staff from 1957 to 1961.

He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and was named to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team in 1969.