Current NFL Coaches Who Had Successful Playing Careers
Submitted by podizz on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 09:37
- Mike Singletary (49ers)- Samurai Mike was a two-time All-American at Baylor University before being drafted by the Chicago Bears. He went on to start 172 games for the Bears during his 12-year career (second most in club history), amassing an impressive 1,488 career tackles. Selected to play in a team record 10 Pro Bowls, Singletary was All-Pro eight times, and All-NFC every year from 1983 to 1991. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995 and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Jack Del Rio (Jaguars)- All-American linebacker at USC and MVP of the 1985 Rose Bowl. Drafted by baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays in 1981, Del Rio batted .340 while playing catcher on USC’s baseball team with Mark McGwire and Randy Johnson. In football, during his senior year, he earned consensus All-America honors as a senior and was runner-up for the Lombardi Award. His roommate at USC was Sean Salisbury. Del Rio was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 3rd round of the 1985 NFL Draft. His 11-year career was spent between the Saints (1985-1986), the Kansas City Chiefs (1987-1988), Dallas Cowboys (1989–1991), and Minnesota Vikings (1992–1995). He played in the 1994 Pro Bowl.
- Ken Wisenhunt (Cardinals)- Played for Georgia Tech, where during his senior season, Wisenhunt was an honorable mention All-American. He also finished first team all-ACC during his final two college seasons. Wisenhunt was drafted in the 12th round by the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he played four years as a tight end before stints with the Redskins and Jets. In all, he spent 9 years in the NFL.
- Gary Kubiak (Texans)- Kubiak attended Texas A&M University and was selected to the All-Southwest Conference team in 1982 after leading the conference in passing yards (1,948) and touchdowns (19). He was selected in the eighth round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and played his entire career for the Broncos as a backup for John Elway. In nine seasons, Kubiak went 3-2 as a starter, throwing for 14 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and 1,920 yards.
- (R) Jeff Fisher (Titans)- Fisher played as a wide receiver for the USC Trojans, where he won a national championship (1978) and was honored with a Pac-10 All-Academic selection (1980). He was a 7th round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1981 and appeared in 49 games as a defensive back and return specialist in five seasons. He earned a Super Bowl ring after Chicago’s 1985 Super Bowl season, despite spending the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury that prematurely ended his playing career. Fisher got injured on a kickoff return when he was tackled by then-Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Bill Cowher, the future Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- (R)Jim Zorn (Redskins)- After going undrafted frm Cal Poly Pamona, Zorn became the starting QB for the Seahawks from 76-83. He spent the next three years serving as backup for the Packers, Buccaneers, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
- Lovie Smith (Bears)- Smith played college football at University of Tulsa where he was a two-time All-American at linebacker and safety.
- Tom Coughlin (Giants)- Coughlin attended Syracuse University where he played wingback. In 1967, he set the school's single-season pass receiving record.
- (R)Wade Phillips (Cowboys)- Attended the University of Houston, where he was a three-year starter at linebacker from 1966–68. He still holds the school record for career assisted tackles (228).
- Jim Schwartz (Lions)- Schwartz was a four-year letterman at linebacker at Georgetown University.
- John Fox (Broncos)- Fox was a defensive back at San Diego State under future NFL head coach Herman Edwards.
- Norv Turner (Chargers)- Starting quarterback at Oregon.
- Jim Mora (Falcons)- Mora played defensive back at Washington from 1980–83, appearing in two Rose Bowls.
- Jim Harbaugh (Ravens)- Defensive back at Miami.
- Chan Gailey (Bills) -Quarterback at Florida
- Ron Rivera (Panthers)- Compiled the all time record for sacks and career tackles at UCLA before submitted nine years at linebacker for the Chicago Bears.
- Pat Shurmur (Browns) Co-captained the Rose Bowl Champion 1988 Michigan St Spartans
- Jason Garrett (Cowboys) Long time back up to Troy Aikmen during the mid-nineties.
- Jim Caldwell- Defensive back at Iowa.
- Leslie Frazier- Member of the G Crew who spent the early 80s as a DB with the Bears. Frazier, Fisher, and Ron Rivera all received rings as players from the 1985 Champion Bears.
- Andy Reid (Eagles) OG for BYU
- Mike Munchak (Titans) Nine time pro-bowl offensive guard for the Oilers/Titans, a member of the 1980's All-Decade team whose #63 jersey was retired by the Titans.
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