Frank Michael Youso (July 5, 1936 – October 8, 2022) was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and professionally for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) and for the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL).

Frank Youso
Personal information
Born:(1936-07-05)July 5, 1936
International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Died:October 8, 2022(2022-10-08) (aged 86)
International Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
Career information
High school:Falls (MN)
College:Minnesota
Position:Offensive tackle
NFL draft:1958 / round: 2 / pick: 23
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Career

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Youso attended Falls High School in International Falls, Minnesota, graduating in 1954.[1] He enrolled at the University of Minnesota and played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team as an offensive tackle and defensive tackle.[2][3] He was named an All-American with Minnesota, and played in the Blue–Gray Football Classic and the Senior Bowl.[4]

The New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) selected Youso in the second round of the 1958 NFL draft.[5][6] He played for three seasons with the Giants as an offensive tackle, and he played as a defensive tackle during the 1958 NFL Championship Game due to an injury to Roosevelt Grier.[4] The Minnesota Vikings selected Youso in the 1961 NFL Expansion Draft.[7] In 1963, the Vikings shifted Youso to play as a defensive tackle.[8] However, the Vikings cut Youso before the start of the 1963 season.[9] Youso signed with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League as an offensive tackle before the start of the 1963 season.[10] Youso missed three weeks of the 1965 season due to a synovial bursa[11] and missed about half of the 1965 season after suffering a knee injury.[12] Youso retired before the 1966 season.[13]

Personal life and death

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Youso's family moved from Minnesota to Seattle, Washington, when he was young. He developed asthma and pneumonia, which resolved when the family moved back to Minnesota.[14]

Youso married Evelyn (née Pelland) on November 30, 1957.[14] Youso's grandson, Jake, is a hockey player.[15]

After his football career, Youso lived in International Falls, where he operated a motel and vacation lodge.[16] Youso signed on to a class-action lawsuit against the NFL filed by retired players relating to brain injuries suffered while playing. The NFL settled the lawsuit.[1]

Youso died on October 8, 2022, at age 86.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Falls' Youso, a former NFL player, to benefit from settled lawsuit". Duluth News Tribune. December 22, 2016.
  2. ^ "Youso Now Ranked With Top Tackles". Newspapers.com. June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "3 Mar 1990, Page 25 – Star Tribune at". Newspapers.com. March 3, 1990. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "7 Sep 1961, Page 76 – The Minneapolis Star at". Newspapers.com. September 7, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "3 Dec 1957, Page 23 – Lebanon Daily News at". Newspapers.com. December 3, 1957. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "31 Dec 1957, 18 – Quad-City Times at". Newspapers.com. December 31, 1957. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "26 Jan 1961, Page 31 – The Minneapolis Star at". Newspapers.com. January 26, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "22 Jul 1963, Page 30 – Star Tribune at". Newspapers.com. July 22, 1963. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "28 Aug 1963, Page 21 – Star Tribune at". Newspapers.com. August 28, 1963. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Oakland Tribune 06 Sep 1963, page 37". Newspapers.com. September 6, 1963. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "23 Jul 1965, 25 – Oakland Tribune at". Newspapers.com. July 23, 1965. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "13 Jul 1966, 38 – Oakland Tribune at". Newspapers.com. July 13, 1966. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "19 Jul 1966, 43 – Oakland Tribune at". Newspapers.com. July 19, 1966. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "15 Oct 1957, Page 21 – Star Tribune at". Newspapers.com. October 15, 1957. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Augustoviz, Roman (July 21, 2010). "Youso still chasing Division I hockey dream". Startribune.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "16 Jan 1974, Page 62 – The Minneapolis Star at". Newspapers.com. January 16, 1974. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Former Vikings, Gophers lineman Frank Youso dies at 86". Star Tribune. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.