Karl Kassulke Explained

Karl Kassulke
Number:29
Position:Safety
Birth Date:20 March 1941
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Eagan, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:195
High School:West Milwaukee
(West Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
College:Marquette
Drake
Draftyear:1963
Draftround:11
Draftpick:152
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Interceptions
Statvalue1:19
Statlabel2:Interception yards
Statvalue2:187
Statlabel3:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue3:9
Statlabel4:Sacks
Statvalue4:8.5
Pfr:K/KassKa00

Karl Otto Kassulke (March 20, 1941 – October 27, 2008) was a professional American football player.

Kassulke graduated from Drake, where he starred as a safety. He played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Minnesota Vikings. Kassulke started in Super Bowl IV, where he and teammate Earsell Mackbee missed a tackle on Otis Taylor on the final touchdown of the game, late in the third quarter. The next season, he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

On July 24, 1973, Kassulke suffered a motorcycle accident on the way to training camp that left him paralyzed from the waist down.[1] [2]

After his playing career, Kassulke worked with Wings Outreach, a Christian Ministry to the disabled.[3]

Kassulke was immortalized in NFL lore by NFL Films' official highlight film for Super Bowl IV. Kansas City Chiefs coach Hank Stram, who was wired for sound by NFL Films executive producer Ed Sabol, noted the confusion in the Vikings' defense due to the Chiefs' shifting offense and quipped, "Kassulke was running around there like it was a Chinese fire drill".

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kassulke injured in crash . July 25, 1973 . . 13 . Google News . October 7, 2018.
  2. News: Ex-Viking Karl Kassulke dies at 67 . Judd . Zulgad . Patrick . Reusse . October 28, 2008 . . October 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091023064321/http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/33455019.html . October 23, 2009.
  3. News: Karl Kassulke Obituary . October 29, 2008 . . October 7, 2018 . Legacy.com.