Swede Youngstrom
| Date of birth | May 24, 1897 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Waltham, Massachusetts, United States |
| Date of death | August 5, 1968 (aged 71) |
| Place of death | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Center, Guard, End, Tackle |
| College | Dartmouth |
| High school | Waltham High School |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1926 | Frankford Yellow Jackets (assistant) |
| 1927 | Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| As player | |
| 1920–1921 | Buffalo All-Americans |
| 1920 | Union Club of Phoenixville |
| 1921 | Union Quakers of Philadelphia |
| 1921 | Canton Bulldogs |
| 1922–1923 | Buffalo All-Americans |
| 1924–1925 | Buffalo Bisons |
| 1925 | Cleveland Bulldogs |
| 1925 | Millville Big Blue |
| 1926 | Haven-Villa of Winter Haven |
| 1926–1927 | Frankford Yellow Jackets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career stats | |
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Adolph Frederick "Swede" Youngstrom (May 24, 1897 – August 5, 1968) was a professional football player. Over the span of his career in the National Football League, Youngstrom played with the Buffalo All-Americans, Canton Bulldogs, Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Bulldogs and the Frankford Yellow Jackets. He also served as a player-coach for the Yellow Jackets in 1927. Outside of the NFL, Youngstrom played pro football for the Millville Big Blue and the Haven-Villa of Winter Haven.
The Professional Football Researchers Association notes of Youngstrom's career that “He was, quite possibly, the best guard of his era, considering that the only guards in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who played during the 1920s—Mike Michalske and Walt Kiesling—actually played the majority of their careers in the 1930s.”
Swede's first exposure to football came during his time at Waltham High School. The school's football team practiced after classes. Youngstrom then sought his parent’s permission to go out for the football team. However his parents refused to let him play. Swede’s father feared that his son, who eighed just 140 pounds, would be susceptible to injury.
However, during his senior year at Waltham, Swedejoined the team without his parent’s consent or knowledge. However, when a local paper included some highlights involving Swede's on-field performance the secret was revealed. Youngstrom's father however did not let on that he knew of his son’s involvement with the team. Instead, he sneaked to a Waltham practice session and watched his boy in action. After being impressed by his son's performance, Swede's father permitted him to stay with the team.
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