52 days to Packers football: Matthews, Winters, Cumby and … Engebretsen

Paul “Tiny” Engebretsen: 

Here is what John Maxymuk has to say about Engebretsen …

"The circumstances that brought Paul “Tiny” Engebretsen to Green Bay were circuitous indeed. He was a year behind Hank Bruder at Northwestern, but would not join him on he Packers for three years. In 1932, Tiny was signed by George Halas to play for the local pro team, the Bears, and helped beat the Packers 9-0 in December by kicking a fourth quarter 14-yard field goal in the snow. He spent the entire season with Chicago as they won the championship in the first-ever NFL playoff against the Portsmouth Spartans, also by a 9-0 score. It was also the first NFL game played indoors; because of bad weather the game was played on a shortened field within Chicago Stadium."

Tiny came to Green Bay as part of a “player to be named later” deal in 1934 and would stay with the Packers until 1941.

"In Green Bay, the 6-1, 240-pound Engebretsen became a solid starting guard and part of the placekicking committee that the Packers employed. In that era, teams did not carry a separate placekicker; the job was handled along with a player’s regular duties. Due to injuries, inconsistencies, and varying skill levels, it made sense to use more than one kicker at a time. Each year, the mix for the Packers was a little different. By 1937, Tiny was helping with the points after touchdown as well as trying his share of field goals. For the remainder of his time in Green Bay, Tiny was the primary extra-point man and tried his share of field goals as well."