Tom Beutler

Tom Beutler
No. 53
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1946-09-29) September 29, 1946 (age 78)
Bluffton, Ohio
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio)
College:Toledo
NFL draft:1968 / round: 12 / pick: 319
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:8
Games started:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Thomas Joseph Beutler (born September 29, 1946) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets.

Beutler was born in Bluffton, Ohio, and attended Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. He played college football at the University of Toledo from 1964 to 1967.[1] Rockets coach Frank Lauterbur called him "the finest lineman I ever coached."[2]

Beutler was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.[1] He tried out with the Browns in 1968 but was relegated to the reserve squad after sustaining a hamstring injury. He returned to the practice squad again in 1969 after pulling as stomach muscle.[2] In 1970, he survived the final cuts and played as a middle linebacker for the Browns, appearing in four games.[1] Prior to the 1971 season, the Browns traded Beutler to the Baltimore Colts. At Baltimore, he played mostly on special teams and earned a reputation as a hard tackler.[3] He appearing in four games.[4] During the 1970 and 1971 seasons, he appeared in eight NFL games, five of them as a starter.[5]

Beutler also played for the Memphis Southmen in the World Football League in 1974.[6] He announced his retirement from professional football in June 1975.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tom Beutler". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Tom Melody (July 23, 1970). "Beutler 'Backing up Line' For God". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. E2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Tom Beutler". The Baltimore Sun. September 17, 1972 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Overlooked by Selectors, Toledo's Beutler May Be Located by Cats". Philadelphia Daily News. November 22, 1967. p. 50 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tom Beutler". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "1974 Memphis Southmen Roster". Stats Crew. November 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Grizzlies' Beutler Retires". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. June 12, 1975. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.


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