Coy Bacon
Encyclopedia
Lander McCoy Bacon was a former professional American football
defensive lineman in the National Football League
. He was selected to three Pro Bowl
s during his 14-year career. While Quarterback sack
s were not an official statistic during his career, researchers credit Bacon with a career total of 130.
. Spent 1967 on the reserve squad with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1968
, he was picked up by Los Angeles Rams
of the NFL and teamed with Fearsome Foursome
line of Deacon Jones
, Merlin Olsen
, Roger Brown
and Lamar Lundy
after spending the first half of the season on the practice squad. He had his first opportunity for serious playing time at right defensive tackle in 1969 due to injuries to Brown. Following Lamar Lundy's retirement in 1970, Bacon lined up at right defensive end for the next three years. He had eleven sacks in 1971
, and was named to Second-team All-Pro
. He was voted as the Rams Defensive lineman of the year in 1971 and 1972
by the Ram's Alumni Organization. He was Second-team All-Pro
again in 1972.
In 1973, Bacon was sent to San Diego along with running back Bob Thomas
for quarterback John Hadl
. He had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that year. In 1976, he was traded from the Chargers to the Bengals for wide receiver
Charlie Joiner
. Bacon then had an NFL high 21½ sacks for Cincinnati in 1976 prior to the NFL officially recognizing individual sacks. He made the Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro
selection.
The Washington Redskins
traded for him and Lemar Parrish before the 1978 season in exchange for a 1st round draft pick. He recorded 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980 and finished career in the USFL
with the Washington Federals in 1983 where he started in 16 of 18 games and recorded 62 total tackles, 7 sacks and recovered 1 fumble with the 3-15 club.
Coy Bacon was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986
, Ohio
. He was wounded in a drug-related shooting in Washington, D.C.
on August 16, 1986, and later became a born-again Christian and traveled as a motivational speaker. Coy also spent several years working with troubled youth at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility.
on December 22, 2008. Cause of death was not immediately available. He was 66.
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...
defensive lineman in the 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...
. He was selected to three Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s during his 14-year career. While Quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s were not an official statistic during his career, researchers credit Bacon with a career total of 130.
Professional career
Tried out with AFL's Houston Oilers in 1964 but was not signed as it was discovered that he had not graduated from Jackson St.. Bacon began his career in 1965 with the Charleston (W.Va.) Rockets of the Continental Football LeagueContinental Football League
The Continental Football League was a professional minor American football league that operated in North America from 1965 through 1969. It was established following the collapse of the original United Football League, and hoped to become the major force in professional football outside of the...
. Spent 1967 on the reserve squad with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1968
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
, he was picked up by Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of the NFL and teamed with Fearsome Foursome
Fearsome Foursome
The Fearsome Foursome is a fictional supervillain group in the Marvel Comics universe. It was made up of Devos the Devastator, Huntara, Klaw, and Paibok the Power-Skrull. They worked together to destroy the Fantastic Four, though they also came into conflict with the Avengers....
line of Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones
David D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
, Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
, Roger Brown
Roger Brown (football player)
Roger Lee Brown is a former American football defensive tackle who retired after the 1969 NFL season.-Football career:...
and Lamar Lundy
Lamar Lundy
Lamar J. Lundy, Jr. was an American defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for 13 seasons, from 1957 to 1969. Along with Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Rosey Grier, Lundy was a member of the Fearsome Foursome, often considered one of the best defensive lines in...
after spending the first half of the season on the practice squad. He had his first opportunity for serious playing time at right defensive tackle in 1969 due to injuries to Brown. Following Lamar Lundy's retirement in 1970, Bacon lined up at right defensive end for the next three years. He had eleven sacks in 1971
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
, and was named to Second-team All-Pro
1971 All-Pro Team
The following is a list of players that were named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team, the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team and the Pro Football Writers Association, and Pro Football Weekly All-Pro teams in 1971. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the NEA, and PFWA teams...
. He was voted as the Rams Defensive lineman of the year in 1971 and 1972
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
by the Ram's Alumni Organization. He was Second-team All-Pro
1972 All-Pro Team
The following is a list of players that were named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team, the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team and the Pro Football Writers Association, and Pro Football Weekly All-Pro teams in 1972. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP, NEA, and PFWA teams...
again in 1972.
In 1973, Bacon was sent to San Diego along with running back Bob Thomas
Robert R. Thomas
Robert R. Thomas is a justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois and a former professional football player. He has served as the Illinois Supreme Court Justice for the Second District since December 4, 2000 and as Chief Justice from September 6, 2005, to September 5, 2008...
for quarterback John Hadl
John Hadl
John Willard Hadl is a former collegiate and professional football player.Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's...
. He had an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that year. In 1976, he was traded from the Chargers to the Bengals for wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Charlie Joiner
Charlie Joiner
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is a former American football player who starred in professional football for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was...
. Bacon then had an NFL high 21½ sacks for Cincinnati in 1976 prior to the NFL officially recognizing individual sacks. He made the Pro Bowl and was a Second-team All-Pro
1976 All-Pro Team
The following is a list of players that were named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team, the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team and the Pro Football Writers Association, and Pro Football Weekly All-Pro teams in 1976. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP, NEA, and PFWA teams...
selection.
The Washington Redskins
Washington 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,...
traded for him and Lemar Parrish before the 1978 season in exchange for a 1st round draft pick. He recorded 15 sacks in 1979 and 11 in 1980 and finished career in the USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
with the Washington Federals in 1983 where he started in 16 of 18 games and recorded 62 total tackles, 7 sacks and recovered 1 fumble with the 3-15 club.
Coy Bacon was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986
Personal
Bacon eventually moved to IrontonIronton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He was wounded in a drug-related shooting in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on August 16, 1986, and later became a born-again Christian and traveled as a motivational speaker. Coy also spent several years working with troubled youth at the Ohio River Valley Juvenile Correctional Facility.
Death
Bacon died in Ironton, OhioIronton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
on December 22, 2008. Cause of death was not immediately available. He was 66.