Former Green Bay Packers coach Burt Gustafson dead at 96

CRYSTAL FALLS, Michigan − Former Green Bay Packers coach and scout Burt Gustafson died Oct. 22. He was 96 years old.

Gustafson served from 1971 to 1989 under four head coaches: Dan Devine, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg and Lindy Infante. He joined the Packers as linebackers coach, was a college scout for two years, special teams coach in 1977 and three preseason games in 1978, a pro scout for one year, and director of pro scouting for six years. Gregg made him an administrative assistant in football operations, a position he held through 1988.

A native of Marquette, Michigan, Gustafson won 12 letters in football, basketball and track at Northern Michigan University. After graduation in 1950, he was a high school coach for six years before becoming an assistant to Lloyd Eaton at Northern Michigan. He joined Eaton, who left Northern Michigan in 1957, at the University of Wyoming in 1963.

His first contact with the Packers was in the 1960s, while he was still a college coach, when he was invited to attend three of Vince Lombardi's training camps.

Gustafson told Green Bay Packers historian Cliff Christl that he had the most respect for Infante.

"From a football standpoint, he was the best of the four I worked for," Gustafson said. "No doubt in my mind. He was tough but fair. He was a smart guy. He left the defense up to the defensive coaches. He didn't mess with it. He was strictly offense. It was his offense and that was it."

Christl interviewed Gustafson extensively in 2014 and 2018, particularly regarding the Devine years. That interview can be read at https://bit.ly/3DsQoHY.

Funeral arrangements for Gustafson are pending with Nash Funeral Home in Crystal Falls, Michigan.

Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Former Green Bay Packers coach Burt Gustafson dead at 96