Ron Kostelnik

Ron Kostelnik
No. 77, 65
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	January 14, 1940; Colver, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:	January 29, 1993 (aged 53); Scott County, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:	Central Cambria (PA)
College:	Cincinnati
NFL draft:	1961 / round: 2 / pick: 26
AFL draft:	1961 / round: 14 / pick: 108
Career history
	Green Bay Packers (1961–1968); Baltimore Colts (1969);
Career highlights and awards
	5× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967); 2× Super Bowl champion (I, II); Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame;
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ronald Michael Kostelnik (January 14, 1940 - January 29, 1993) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers and one with the Baltimore Colts.^[1] He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats. He won two Super Bowls with the Packers and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.^[2]

Early years

Born in Colver, Pennsylvania, Kostelnik was the son of a Polish American miner.^[3] He graduated from Central Cambria High School in 1957 and played college football at the University of Cincinnati.

Playing career

Kostelnik was selected in the second round of the 1961 NFL draft, 26th overall, by the Packers. For his first several seasons, he backed up veteran Dave Hanner, then became a starter in 1964.^[4] Alongside Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, and Lionel Aldridge, Kostelnik was the unheralded member of the Green Bay defensive line. Teammate Jerry Kramer said of him: "There aren't statistics for steady dependable guys who plug up the middle and allow other guys to excel. But that's what Ron did."^[1]

In his eight seasons in Green Bay, the Packers won five NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls. He was traded in August 1969 to the Baltimore Colts,^[5]^[6] then retired after the season.

After football

With a bachelor's and master's degree in education from Cincinnati, Kostelnik planned to be a school administrator. He began working for Mainline Industrial Distributors Inc. of Appleton in sales in the off-season in 1965, became president in 1970,^[7]^[8] and later was its chief executive officer.^[1]^[9]

Death

While returning to Wisconsin from a Florida vacation with his wife Peggy in 1993, Kostelnik suffered a fatal heart attack and lost control of his car on Interstate 75 in Scott County, Kentucky.^[10]^[11]^[12] He was age 53 and was survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son.^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hendricks, Martin (November 20, 2012). "Kostelnik got the job done without a fuss". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
^ Christl, Cliff. "Ron Kostelnik". Packers.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
^ Irwin, Mrs. James B. (August 11, 1968). "Sports: minorities' friend". Milwaukee Journal. p. 2, part 4.
^ "Ron Kostelnik finds home as defensive Pacer tackle". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 7, 1965. p. 26.
^ Lea, Bud (August 20, 1969). "Colts get Kostelnik". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
^ Lea, Bud (November 6, 1969). "Ron restless as a reserve". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
^ Stafford, Roger A. (March 19, 1973). "Kostelnik quarterback now". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 9, part 2.
^ Kenney, Ray (September 20, 1984). "From lineman to Mainline". Milwaukee Journal. p. 12, part 3.
^ Savage, Mark (June 29, 1991). "New position". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1D.
^ "Ron Kostelnik, tackle For Packers, dies at 53". New York Times. Associated Press. February 1, 1993. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
^ "Ex-Packer Kostelnik dies at 53". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 30, 1993. p. 1B.
^ ^a ^b "Ex-Packer Kostelnik, 53, killed in car crash". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 30, 1993. p. A9.

External links

Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·

[kgtjd-1] Hendricks, Martin (November 20, 2012). "Kostelnik got the job done without a fuss". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 21, 2016.

[2] Christl, Cliff. "Ron Kostelnik". Packers.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.

[spmf-3] Irwin, Mrs. James B. (August 11, 1968). "Sports: minorities' friend". Milwaukee Journal. p. 2, part 4.

[rkfhm-4] "Ron Kostelnik finds home as defensive Pacer tackle". Reading Eagle. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 7, 1965. p. 26.

[cogekos-5] Lea, Bud (August 20, 1969). "Colts get Kostelnik". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.

[rrasares-6] Lea, Bud (November 6, 1969). "Ron restless as a reserve". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.

[ksqbn-7] Stafford, Roger A. (March 19, 1973). "Kostelnik quarterback now". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 9, part 2.

[fltmln-8] Kenney, Ray (September 20, 1984). "From lineman to Mainline". Milwaukee Journal. p. 12, part 3.

[msnewpos-9] Savage, Mark (June 29, 1991). "New position". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1D.

[nytobt-10] "Ron Kostelnik, tackle For Packers, dies at 53". New York Times. Associated Press. February 1, 1993. Retrieved February 21, 2016.

[msexpk-11] "Ex-Packer Kostelnik dies at 53". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 30, 1993. p. 1B.

[mjkobt-12] "Ex-Packer Kostelnik, 53, killed in car crash". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 30, 1993. p. A9.

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v t e Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I champions
5 Paul Hornung 12 Zeke Bratkowski 15 Bart Starr (MVP) 21 Bob Jeter 22 Elijah Pitts 24 Willie Wood 26 Herb Adderley 27 Red Mack 31 Jim Taylor 33 Jim Grabowski 34 Don Chandler 37 Phil Vandersea 40 Tom Brown 43 Doug Hart 44 Donny Anderson 45 Dave Hathcock 50 Bill Curry 56 Tommy Joe Crutcher 57 Ken Bowman 60 Lee Roy Caffey 63 Fred Thurston 64 Jerry Kramer 66 Ray Nitschke 68 Gale Gillingham 72 Steve Wright 73 Jim Weatherwax 74 Henry Jordan 75 Forrest Gregg 76 Bob Skoronski 77 Ron Kostelnik 78 Bob Brown 80 Bob Long 81 Marv Fleming 82 Lionel Aldridge 83 Allen Brown 84 Carroll Dale 85 Max McGee 86 Boyd Dowler 87 Willie Davis 88 Bill Anderson 89 Dave Robinson
Head coach: Vince Lombardi
Coaches: Phil Bengtson Jerry Burns Red Cochran Dave Hanner Bob Schnelker Ray Wietecha

v t e Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II champions
12 Zeke Bratkowski 13 Don Horn 15 Bart Starr (MVP) 21 Bob Jeter 23 Travis Williams 24 Willie Wood 26 Herb Adderley 27 Claudis James 30 Chuck Mercein 33 Jim Grabowski 34 Don Chandler 36 Ben Wilson 40 Tom Brown 43 Doug Hart 44 Donny Anderson 45 John Rowser 50 Bob Hyland 55 Jim Flanigan 56 Tommy Joe Crutcher 57 Ken Bowman 60 Lee Roy Caffey 63 Fred Thurston 64 Jerry Kramer 66 Ray Nitschke 68 Gale Gillingham 72 Steve Wright 73 Jim Weatherwax 74 Henry Jordan 75 Forrest Gregg 76 Bob Skoronski 77 Ron Kostelnik 78 Bob Brown 80 Bob Long 81 Marv Fleming 82 Lionel Aldridge 83 Allen Brown 84 Carroll Dale 85 Max McGee 86 Boyd Dowler 87 Willie Davis 88 Dick Capp 89 Dave Robinson
Head coach: Vince Lombardi
Coaches: Phil Bengtson Jerry Burns Wally Cruice Dave Hanner Tom McCormick Bob Schnelker Ray Wietecha