Bill McPeak
Encyclopedia
William Patrick McPeak was an American football
player and National Football League
coach.
, McPeak was a star defensive end
for the University of Pittsburgh
. He was drafted
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
where he played from 1949 to 1957. It was during the final two years of his playing career that he would also become an assistant coach for the team.
as an assistant under head coach Mike Nixon
. After Nixon's dismissal following the 1960 NFL season
, McPeak was promoted to head coach, and would remain in that position until 1965. Although the Redskins did not have a winning season under McPeak (he had an overall 21-46-3 record as head coach), it was during his tenure that the team would acquire players (many of whom would become Hall-of-Famers) that would eventually play a part in their later winning years such as Sonny Jurgensen
and Bobby Mitchell
, and draft future stars such as wide receiver Charley Taylor
, tight end Jerry Smith
, center Len Hauss
, and linebacker Chris Hanburger
.
as an assistant coach, a position he held until 1972 when he moved on to the Miami Dolphins
to replace Howard Schnellenberger
who became head coach of the Baltimore Colts
. Unfortunately he would only be an assistant in Miami for two seasons because he would suffer a stroke, and would take several years to recover. After his recovery, he would join the New England Patriots
where he became director of scouting for a dozen years.
McPeak died of a heart attack on May 7, 1991 at the age of 64 at his home in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
coach.
Playing career
Born in New Castle, PennsylvaniaNew Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
, McPeak was a star defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
where he played from 1949 to 1957. It was during the final two years of his playing career that he would also become an assistant coach for the team.
Head coaching career
In 1959, McPeak joined the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
as an assistant under head coach Mike Nixon
Mike Nixon
Mike Nixon is a former American football player, coach and scout who spent close to a half-century connected to the game...
. After Nixon's dismissal following the 1960 NFL season
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
, McPeak was promoted to head coach, and would remain in that position until 1965. Although the Redskins did not have a winning season under McPeak (he had an overall 21-46-3 record as head coach), it was during his tenure that the team would acquire players (many of whom would become Hall-of-Famers) that would eventually play a part in their later winning years such as Sonny Jurgensen
Sonny Jurgensen
Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
and Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell
Robert Cornelius Mitchell is a former American football halfback and flanker in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins. Mitchell was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.-Early life:Mitchell was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and attended...
, and draft future stars such as wide receiver Charley Taylor
Charley Taylor
Charles Robert Taylor is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984....
, tight end Jerry Smith
Jerry Smith (NFL player)
Gerald "Jerry" Sanford Smith was a professional American football tight end for the National Football League's Washington Redskins from 1965–1977.-Professional career:...
, center Len Hauss
Len Hauss
Leonard Moore Hauss is a former American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1964 to 1977.-Early life:...
, and linebacker Chris Hanburger
Chris Hanburger
Christian G. Hanburger, Jr. is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played his entire fourteen year career with the Washington Redskins from 1965 to 1978...
.
Later coaching and scouting
In 1967, McPeak would join the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
as an assistant coach, a position he held until 1972 when he moved on to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to replace Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger
Howard Schnellenberger is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. He is currently in his final season as head coach of Florida Atlantic University, having announced his retirement on August 11, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011 season...
who became head coach of the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
. Unfortunately he would only be an assistant in Miami for two seasons because he would suffer a stroke, and would take several years to recover. After his recovery, he would join the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
where he became director of scouting for a dozen years.
McPeak died of a heart attack on May 7, 1991 at the age of 64 at his home in Foxboro, Massachusetts.