George Allen

Categories: Sports | NFL Coaches
  • George Allen was a football coach, primarily in the NFL from 1966-1977. He built his career as a defensive coordinator, helping the Chicago Bears win the 1963 NFL Championship. He then became head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 1966, and he won coach of the year in 1967, leading them to a division title. He was fired following the 1970 season, but was then immediately hired by the Washington Redskins in 1971. Trading draft choices for experienced veteran players, mostly from the Rams, he led the Redskins, known as the "Over the Hill Gang", to the NFC Championship in 1972. However, the Redskins lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. The Redskins would continue to thrive under Allen, until his retirement following the 1977 season. His .681 winning percentage is 3rd all-time in NFL history, behind only John Madden and Vince Lombardi. He returned to coaching the 1980's spending two seasons with two teams in the USFL, and then coached in college at Long Beach State before his death 1990. He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. His son George is a former U.S. Senator from Virginia, while another son Bruce is the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • Fast Facts:

    1. Born: April 29, 1918
    2. Full Name: George Herbert Allen
    3. Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
    4. College: Eastern Michigan University
    5. Known for trading draft picks for established players
    6. Had so many former Rams players on his first Redskins team that they were referred to as the "Ramskins"
    7. Once ran a play in a game designed by then-President Richard Nixon
    8. As a head coach, his teams qualified for the NFL Playoffs 7 out of 12 seasons
    9. Among his former assistant coaches were eventual Super Bowl coaches Dick Vermeil and Marv Levy
    10. His son George is former senator of Virginia
    11. Named coach of the year in 1967 & 1971
    12. Died: December 31, 1990

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