He played professionally for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in 1968 and 1969, and the Memphis Southmen of the WFL in 1974 and 1975.

Etter later became an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Grand Life Master.

He was a professor of mathematics at California State University, Sacramento for 32 years.

[1] Etter is an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) Grand Life Master.

[2] In 1981 and 1998 he won high-level teams-of-four tournaments that are sometimes called "national championships" in the U.S.