Gaynell Tinsley, Former Player & Later Head Coach

Gaynell Tinsley: LSU Photograph Collection, RG #A5000,
Louisiana State University Archives, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, LA.

Gaynell Tinsley

Gaynell Tinsley was born on February 1, 1915. Tinsley was a large factor in both LSU football and in the NFL as both a receiver and as a head coach. He was a consensus All-American for LSU in 1935 and 1936 and an All-NFL selection while playing for the Chicago Cardinals in 1937 and 1938. During his three years in the NFL, Tinsley set or tied several NFL single-season records with 674 receiving yards in 1937 and 41 pass receptions in 1938. He later served as the head football coach at LSU from 1948–1954. In 1993, LSU selected its all-time team as part of the celebration of the centennial of LSU football. Tinsley was "the only unanimous choice" for LSU's Early Years Team of the Century. Tinsley passed away on July 24, 2002.

Tinsley’s interview is housed in the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU Libraries Special Collections. Tinsley, Gaynell, interview by Scott Purdy, audio recording, 1993, 4700.0223. Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.