Nov 12 in Jet History: Weeb Ewbank Announces Retirement
Nov 12, 2015 6:39:21 GMT -5
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Post by Lithfan on Nov 12, 2015 6:39:21 GMT -5
November 12, 1974
New York Jets VP and General Manager Weeb Ewbank announced his retirement from professional football, to take effect at the conclusion of the 1974 season. Ewbank retired as the only coach ever to win an NFL Championship, and AFL Championship and a Super Bowl.
His record as a regular season head coach was pedestrian, at 130-129-7 over 20 years with the Colts and the Jets. He was only 71-77-6 in 11 seasons as the Jets head coach, but he proved to be a winner on several occasions. His teams made only 4 playoff appearances, but they won championships in 3 of their 4 opportunities, including two of the most significant Championship wins in NFL history: The 1958 Championship, often referred to as the Greatest Game Ever Played, when the Colts topped the Giants 23-17 in overtime; and of course, Super Bowl III in January of 1969 by a score of 16-7, as the Jets defeated his old team, the Baltimore Colts.
Weeb had retired as Jets head coach following the 1973 season and had hired his son-in-law Charley Winner as coach while Ewbank assumed GM duties. Winner, who had been an assistant for Washington under George Allen and had coached under Don Shula in Baltimore, was hired by Ewbank as an assistant in 73 and then to assume the head coaching position in 1974.
Weeb retired in order to spend more time with family, as he explained at the time, “Even with my reduced duties, I’m still unable to do many things I missed the last 25 years that I have been coaching in pro football,” he said. “Therefore, while I am in good health, I’m leaving this time consuming job with the Jets to enjoy my family, friends and just plain relax.”
Ewbank was part of the Paul Brown coaching tree, having played with Brown in college at Miami University. He was an assistant under Brown in Cleveland from 1949 - 53, his first NFL coaching position.
He passed away in November of 1998, ironically on the 30th anniversary of the Heidi game, one of his best know defeats, which he and his team would avenge in the AFL Championship.
Ewbank was not concerned with his players’ off the field behavior. He allowed them to be individuals, off the field -- allowing Joe Namath to be Broadway Joe. “As long as they produce,” he would say. “Their job is to play football”
"It sounds a little corny saying that pro coaches were like fathers, but it's true," said Namath upon Ewbank’s passing. "Not only Weeb but his wife, Lucy," Namath said. "They cemented relationships. You saw all these guys with an outpouring of love - that's because people loved Weeb and Weeb loved people."
Al Ward, who had been VP, Administration with the Cowboys would be hired to replace Ewbank for the 1975 season.
Source: The New York Times and CBSNews.com
New York Jets VP and General Manager Weeb Ewbank announced his retirement from professional football, to take effect at the conclusion of the 1974 season. Ewbank retired as the only coach ever to win an NFL Championship, and AFL Championship and a Super Bowl.
His record as a regular season head coach was pedestrian, at 130-129-7 over 20 years with the Colts and the Jets. He was only 71-77-6 in 11 seasons as the Jets head coach, but he proved to be a winner on several occasions. His teams made only 4 playoff appearances, but they won championships in 3 of their 4 opportunities, including two of the most significant Championship wins in NFL history: The 1958 Championship, often referred to as the Greatest Game Ever Played, when the Colts topped the Giants 23-17 in overtime; and of course, Super Bowl III in January of 1969 by a score of 16-7, as the Jets defeated his old team, the Baltimore Colts.
Weeb had retired as Jets head coach following the 1973 season and had hired his son-in-law Charley Winner as coach while Ewbank assumed GM duties. Winner, who had been an assistant for Washington under George Allen and had coached under Don Shula in Baltimore, was hired by Ewbank as an assistant in 73 and then to assume the head coaching position in 1974.
Weeb retired in order to spend more time with family, as he explained at the time, “Even with my reduced duties, I’m still unable to do many things I missed the last 25 years that I have been coaching in pro football,” he said. “Therefore, while I am in good health, I’m leaving this time consuming job with the Jets to enjoy my family, friends and just plain relax.”
Ewbank was part of the Paul Brown coaching tree, having played with Brown in college at Miami University. He was an assistant under Brown in Cleveland from 1949 - 53, his first NFL coaching position.
He passed away in November of 1998, ironically on the 30th anniversary of the Heidi game, one of his best know defeats, which he and his team would avenge in the AFL Championship.
Ewbank was not concerned with his players’ off the field behavior. He allowed them to be individuals, off the field -- allowing Joe Namath to be Broadway Joe. “As long as they produce,” he would say. “Their job is to play football”
"It sounds a little corny saying that pro coaches were like fathers, but it's true," said Namath upon Ewbank’s passing. "Not only Weeb but his wife, Lucy," Namath said. "They cemented relationships. You saw all these guys with an outpouring of love - that's because people loved Weeb and Weeb loved people."
Al Ward, who had been VP, Administration with the Cowboys would be hired to replace Ewbank for the 1975 season.
Source: The New York Times and CBSNews.com
