Hank Bullough
Encyclopedia
Henry Charles "Hank" Bullough (born January 24, 1934) is a former American Football
player and coach. He played college football
at Michigan State and graduated in 1954. Bullough was a starting guard
for the Spartans team that won the 1952 Rose Bowl
. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers
with the 53rd pick in the 5th round of the 1955 NFL Draft.
.
As defensive coordinator
for the New England Patriots
in the 1970s Bullough is credited, along with his college teammate Chuck Fairbanks
, with being a significant figure in bringing the 3-4 defense
to the NFL. After Fairbanks was suspended prior to the final game of the 1978
season, Bullough's and fellow assistant Ron Erhardt
were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. After the season Patriots owner Billy Sullivan
appointed Erhadt head coach instead of Bullough. Bullough would remain defensive coordinator for one more season with the Patriots.
In 1980, new Cincinnati Bengals
head coach and former Green Bay Packers
teammate, Forrest Gregg
wooed Bullough to install the 3-4 defensive system in Cincinnati. Two seasons later the Bengals would go to the Super Bowl
where they fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers
. While with the Bengals, Bullough also tutored Dick LeBeau
who, not only would succeed Bullough as defensive coordinator but, is credited as the innovator of the 3-4 zone blitz scheme.
Bullough also served as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers
(1984) and as head coach of the Buffalo Bills
(1985–86).
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 coach. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State and graduated in 1954. Bullough was a starting guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Spartans team that won the 1952 Rose Bowl
1952 Rose Bowl
The 1952 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1952 at the end of the 1951 college football season. It was the 38th Rose Bowl Game. It holds the distinction of being the first nationally televised college football game...
. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
with the 53rd pick in the 5th round of the 1955 NFL Draft.
Coaching career
Bullough's first coaching position was at his alma mater, Michigan State, where he served for 11 seasons. In 1970, he became linebackers coach for the Baltimore Colts under head coach Don McCaffertyDon McCafferty
Donald William McCafferty was an American football coach who, in his first year as head coach of the Baltimore Colts, led the team to a victory in Super Bowl V....
.
As defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots strategy
The New England Patriots employ a variety of strategies during play. Since the arrival of head coach Bill Belichick in 2000, the Patriots have utilized an "Erhardt-Perkins" offense and a "Fairbanks-Bullough" 3-4 defense, referred to commonly as a 2-gap 3-4 defensive system.However, in 2011, the...
in the 1970s Bullough is credited, along with his college teammate Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL....
, with being a significant figure in bringing the 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
to the NFL. After Fairbanks was suspended prior to the final game of the 1978
1978 New England Patriots season
The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1978 season with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Regular season:...
season, Bullough's and fellow assistant Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt is a former football coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, and from 1979-1981 served as head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots.-College assistant and high school head coach:...
were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. After the season Patriots owner Billy Sullivan
Billy Sullivan
William Joseph Sullivan, Sr. was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for 16 seasons, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
appointed Erhadt head coach instead of Bullough. Bullough would remain defensive coordinator for one more season with the Patriots.
In 1980, new Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
head coach and former Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
teammate, Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
wooed Bullough to install the 3-4 defensive system in Cincinnati. Two seasons later the Bengals would go to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI was an American football game played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan to decide the National Football League champion following the 1981 regular season. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city...
where they fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. While with the Bengals, Bullough also tutored Dick LeBeau
Dick LeBeau
Charles Richard “Dick” LeBeau is a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive back. He is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive coordinators of all time. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player with the Detroit Lions and...
who, not only would succeed Bullough as defensive coordinator but, is credited as the innovator of the 3-4 zone blitz scheme.
Bullough also served as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(1984) and as head coach of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1985–86).