Bill Tobin (American football)
Encyclopedia
Bill Tobin is a former professional American football
player who played Running back
for one season for the Houston Oilers. He would later become the general manager of the Chicago Bears
and Indianapolis Colts
. He also was director of player personnel for the Detroit Lions
in 2001.
Tobin attended the University of Missouri
, where he played in the Tigers
′ backfield
next to quarterback
Jim Johnson.
During his time with the Indianapolis Colts he drafted Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk
and in the following year took future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison
. He also drafted Ken Dilger
, Tarik Glenn
and Adam Meadows
, who would be cornerstones of the Colts offensive line. He also built a team in Indianapolis
with Jim Harbaugh
, who in 1995 led the NFL in passing and had a very successful run in the 1995 NFL playoffs, including he first playoff win for the Colts since Superbowl V, a span of thirty years. He drafted Ray Buchanan
and Ashley Ambrose
who came to be tremendous players in the league and eventually started for the Falcons in the Superbowl. It could be argued that Bill Tobin laid the foundation for the Peyton Manning
era because of quality players he drafted.
Tobin was replaced as Colts general manager in 1997 by Bill Polian
. Tobin is the brother of former NFL coach Vince Tobin
.
after being criticized by ESPN
analyst Mel Kiper for picking Nebraska
linebacker
Trev Alberts
with the fifth pick in the draft, instead of Fresno State
quarterback
Trent Dilfer
.
While being interviewed by ESPN later in the broadcast, Tobin famously said "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?!" Tobin later called a press conference where he ranted about Kiper for several minutes, stating that Kiper had been biased against the Colts ever since they moved from Baltimore, Kiper's home.
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 who played Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for one season for the Houston Oilers. He would later become the general manager of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. He also was director of player personnel for the Detroit Lions
Detroit 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...
in 2001.
Tobin attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, where he played in the Tigers
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
′ backfield
Backfield
The backfield is the area of an American football field behind the line of scrimmage. The backfield or offensive backfield can also refer to members of offense who begin plays behind the line, typically including any backs on the field, such as the quarterback, running back, and/or fullback.-Play...
next to quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Johnson.
During his time with the Indianapolis Colts he drafted Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access, Thursday Night Football, and NFL GameDay Morning on the NFL Network...
and in the following year took future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison
Marvin Daniel Harrison is a former American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse...
. He also drafted Ken Dilger
Ken Dilger
Kenneth Ray Dilger is a retired professional American football player.-Early years:Ken Dilger was raised in Mariah Hill, Spencer County, Indiana. He attended Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City, Indiana where he played quarterback; he also starred in basketball and baseball...
, Tarik Glenn
Tarik Glenn
Tarik Glenn is a former American football offensive tackle who played for the Indianapolis Colts. Glenn performed as two-way lineman at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California....
and Adam Meadows
Adam Meadows
-High School Years:Meadows attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, and was a letterman in football and basketball.-College years:Meadows attended the University of Georgia and was a four-year member of the starting lineup in football....
, who would be cornerstones of the Colts offensive line. He also built a team in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
with Jim Harbaugh
Jim Harbaugh
James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...
, who in 1995 led the NFL in passing and had a very successful run in the 1995 NFL playoffs, including he first playoff win for the Colts since Superbowl V, a span of thirty years. He drafted Ray Buchanan
Ray Buchanan
Raymond Louis Buchanan is a former American football player in the NFL. He was drafted out of Louisville in 1993 by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round , and subsequently played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders.-High school career:At Proviso East High School in Maywood,...
and Ashley Ambrose
Ashley Ambrose
Ashley Avery Ambrose is a former professional American football cornerback for several NFL teams during the 1990s and early 2000s who is currently the defensive backs coach for the California Golden Bears football team.Ambrose was a one time Pro Bowl selection in 1996 while he was playing with the...
who came to be tremendous players in the league and eventually started for the Falcons in the Superbowl. It could be argued that Bill Tobin laid the foundation for the Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
era because of quality players he drafted.
Tobin was replaced as Colts general manager in 1997 by Bill Polian
Bill Polian
Bill Polian is the Vice Chairman of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. He rose to league prominence as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills, building a team that participated in four straight Super Bowls, losing each time...
. Tobin is the brother of former NFL coach Vince Tobin
Vince Tobin
Vincent Michael Tobin is a longtime American football coach and former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He is currently a special assistant to the Green Bay Packers.-College coaching career:...
.
Mel Kiper Incident
While general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, Tobin gained some notoriety during the television broadcast of the 1994 NFL Draft1994 NFL Draft
The 1994 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
after being criticized by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
analyst Mel Kiper for picking Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Trev Alberts
Trev Alberts
Trev Kendall Alberts is the director of athletics for the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Before assuming this position, he was an American television and print college football commentator, most notably working alongside Mark May on the ESPN's College GameDay Scoreboard show.-Collegiate:Alberts...
with the fifth pick in the draft, instead of Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Trent Dilfer
Trent Dilfer
Trent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
.
While being interviewed by ESPN later in the broadcast, Tobin famously said "Who the hell is Mel Kiper?!" Tobin later called a press conference where he ranted about Kiper for several minutes, stating that Kiper had been biased against the Colts ever since they moved from Baltimore, Kiper's home.