During most of Wistert's career there were no football All-star games, although he was named to the league All-Pro team four times.

He is one of the three brothers—along with Whitey and Alvin—who were named All-American tackles at Michigan and later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

[7] His father, Kazimer Wistert, was a Spanish–American War veteran who was later killed in the line of duty while working for the Chicago Police Department.

[10] In 1981, he was named to the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in the fourth class of inductees alongside his brothers.

In 1940, the team's only loss in its eight-game season was to the eventual national champion Minnesota Golden Gophers football.

Wistert served as captain of the College All-star team that beat the Sammy Baugh-led National Football League champion Washington Redskins, 27–7, in Chicago.

[7] As a two-way player,[14] he played his entire nine-year career for the Philadelphia Eagles (who operated as a merged team with the Pittsburgh Steelers for one season during World War II.

Thus, although Wistert was a perennial All-Pro selection, it is difficult to compare him to more modern players who are often measured by Pro Bowl invitations.

[9] According to his College Football Hall of Fame biography, during his career he started every game the Eagles played except for the 1950 season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

[15] In 2005, Wistert lamented not having been enshrined in the Professional Football Hall of Fame and on Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll: The two things that would really make my career complete is to be inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.

[11][15] He was married to his late wife Ellie for 61 years and has three daughters (Pam, Dianna and Kathy) and three grandchildren.