Austin Gunsel

Austin H. Gunsel (April 2, 1909 - June 17, 1974) was the interim Commissioner of the National Football League from 1959 to 1960, following the death of Bert Bell on October 11, 1959.^[1]

Austin Gunsel
3rd Commissioner of the NFL (interim)
In office October 11, 1959 – January 1960
Preceded by	Bert Bell
Succeeded by	Pete Rozelle
Investigative chair of the NFL
In office 1952–1956
Treasurer of the NFL
In office 1956–1966
Personal details
Born	Austin H. Gunsel (1909-04-02)April 2, 1909 Irvington, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 17, 1974(1974-06-17) (aged 65) Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Education

Gunsel was born in Irvington, New Jersey and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.^[2]

Career

Gunsel joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1939. He served as both J. Edgar Hoover's administrative assistant and as a special agent for the Bureau, and during his crime-fighting career, served in the New York City, Detroit and Chicago field offices.

In 1952, Gunsel was hired by the NFL to head the league's investigative department, a move made in response to commissioner Bert Bell's fear of a scandal damaging the league's image. Gunsel became league treasurer in 1956, holding the post until his retirement ten years later. He served as acting president of the NFL after Bell's death in October 1959.

Gunsel and San Francisco 49ers attorney Marshall Leahy were seen as the front-runners commissioner.^[3] On January 20, 1960, Leahy received 7 votes to Gunsel's 5, which was short of the two-thirds needed to be elected commissioner.^[4] Gunsel was soon dropped from consideration and after an eight-day deadlock, the owners selected Los Angeles Rams general manager Pete Rozelle as a compromise candidate.^[5] Gunsel stayed on as NFL treasurer until his retirement on July 1, 1966.^[6]

Personal life

At the age of 65, Gunsel died at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.^[1]

References

1. "Austin H. Gunsel". The New York Times. 1974-06-20. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
2. "N.F.L. Picks Interim Chief; Gunsel is chosen by Club Owners. Acting Chief of Pro League Since Bell's Death to Serve Until January", The New York Times, October 15, 1959.
3. "Gunsel and Coast Man Reported Top Candidates to Head N.F.L.". The New York Times. January 18, 1960.
4. "Leahy Leads Kellett in Poll". The Milwaukee Journal. January 21, 1960. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
5. Bernstein, Ralph (January 27, 1960). "Things Beginning to Jell in the N.F.L. - Rams' Rozelle Succeeds Bell". The Windsor Star. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
6. U.S. Congress House Committee on the Judiciary, Hearings 1966 Volume 3: Professional football league merger, on S. 3817, October 6–13, 1966, Serial No. 22. Retrieved March 13, 2023.