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Martin Kottler

1910 – 1989

Early professional football player

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About Martin Kottler

Lived 1910 – 1989 (aged 79). Martin Kottler was an American american football player.

Martin Albert "Butch" Kottler (May 1, 1910 – June 10, 1989) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was a charter member of the Pittsburgh Pirates (which would later be renamed the Steelers).

Kottler was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania to Martin and Christine (Eichner) Kottler. He attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky where he starred on the football team and was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

He joined the newly formed Pittsburgh Pirates in 1933. In the club's second game, on September 27, 1933, he scored the first touchdown in franchise history for on a 99-yard interception return. This would stand as the longest interception return in franchise history until Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, when James Harrison returned an interception 100 yards.

During World War II and the Korean War, Kottler served in the United States Army Air Corps. He achieved the rank of captain before leaving the service in 1953. He then embarked on a long career in the auto industry, including many years as an executive at Avis. He was married to Bernice Mary Saunders and the couple had a daughter, Cheryl. He died following a long illness in 1989 at the age of 79.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Centre College

People in Martin Kottler's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Martin Kottler's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Martin Kottler?

early professional football player (1910-1989)

When was Martin Kottler born?

Martin Kottler was born on 1 May 1910 in Carnegie.

When did Martin Kottler die?

Martin Kottler died on 10 June 1989 in Centerbrook.

What was Martin Kottler's occupation?

Martin Kottler was an american football player.

What nationality was Martin Kottler?

Martin Kottler was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Martin Kottler

· Wikidata: Q6775917

· DBpedia: Martin Kottler

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Martin Kottler. https://biography.guide/martin-kottler/

MLA: "Martin Kottler." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/martin-kottler/.

Chicago: "Martin Kottler." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/martin-kottler/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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