Joe Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Joseph Paul Schmidt is a former American football
player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. His 13-year career with the National Football League
's Detroit Lions
gained him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1973.
, Pennsylvania
in the borough of Brentwood
and attended the University of Pittsburgh
, playing on the school's football team for three years from 1950–1952. His hard-nosed play and leadership were an integral part of the team during those three years, with his inspirational pre-game speech helping the Panthers upset a heavily-favored team from the University of Notre Dame
, 22–19, on October 11, 1952. One player later commented, "Hell, we were more afraid of Schmidt than Notre Dame."
Despite these attributes, Schmidt's size (6 ft, 195 lb; 1.8 m, 88 kg) worked against him in the NFL draft, when the Lions waited until the seventh round to select him. It was not until his arrival at the 1953 College All-Star Game
that the Lion coaches, who were opposing him in the contest, saw his talent on display.
The latter duty resulted in an amusing, if painful, moment for Schmidt that year, when many teams were experimenting with radio receivers to send signals. On one occasion, Lions' assistant coach Buster Ramsey was so upset after one play that he slammed the radio receiver to the ground, with Schmidt jumping after being on the noisy end of Ramsey's anger.
The following year, Schmidt was named the top defensive player in the NFL, when he made roughly half of the team's tackles on the season. The award was the first of four times that he would receive the honor, with his outstanding play an important part of the Lions' third title in six years. However, Schmidt's 1957 salary of $11,000 became a sticking point before the start of the next season, and after six months of military service during the off-season, Schmidt was a holdout as training camp began. He later signed and finished the year with six interceptions, while also establishing a new NFL record that year by recovering eight fumbles.
Schmidt's physical toughness was put on greater display as injuries began to strike in 1960. After suffering a dislocated shoulder in the September 11 exhibition game, Schmidt was expected to miss six weeks, but instead was back after a month and scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on October 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles
.
Two years later, Schmidt battled bruised ribs, but after the year had ended, his career was in peril for activities off the field when he became involved in a gambling investigation. After he admitted wagering on the 1962 NFL Championship game between the Green Bay Packers
and New York Giants
, Schmidt (along with four teammates) was fined $2,000.
In each of the next two seasons, shoulder troubles continued, but Schmidt continued to be the focal point of the Lions defense.
In 1999, he was ranked number 65 on The Sporting News
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Number 65 was also his uniform number at Pitt, and the school retired it. As a Lion, he wore number 56, and this number was retired as well. Schmidt personally allowed Pat Swilling
to wear the number 56 during Swilling's time with the Lions. No player has worn it since.
, who went on to a productive Pro Bowl career with the team, and Wally Hilgenberg
, who later was an effective member of the Minnesota Vikings
' defense.
After two years of continued conflict with players, Lions' head coach Harry Gilmer
was let go and Schmidt was hired to replace him for 1967. In taking control, Schmidt instilled discipline by establishing curfews and trading unhappy players. The end result that first year was a 5–7–2 mark, but his attempts at improving the team after the season almost resulted in his resignation. Seeing the need for a quarterback, Schmidt attempted to trade for former Lion teammate Jim Ninowski
, but was rejected by management. By the time the 1968 NFL season
began, Schmidt had settled on former Los Angeles Rams
signal caller Bill Munson
.
That year, Schmidt heard perhaps the first boos ever by Detroit fans when he ran out the clock, instead of trying to break a 20–20 deadlock against Green Bay. By season's end, the team had finished one game worse than the year before. In 1969, his playing career was honored when he was selected the "Greatest Lion Ever" in conjunction with the NFL's 50th anniversary, and his team also showed strong improvement, finishing 9–4–1 on the campaign. Just hours after the team defeated the 11–2 Rams 28–0 on December 14, Schmidt's celebrating caught up with him when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Schmidt's best season came the following year when the Lions were 10–4 to make the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The most important win of the year came in a December 14 Monday night clash at Los Angeles, where they defeated the Rams 28–23, while the most heartbreaking loss came on November 8, when Tom Dempsey
's record 63-yard field goal beat Detroit 19–17. After that game, Schmidt demoted Munson in favor of third-year quarterback Greg Landry
. The playoff run was short, however, as the Dallas Cowboys won a defensive battle, 5–0, on December 26.
In 1971, the team slipped to a 7–6–1 record, but the decline paled in comparison to the death of Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes
in the waning moments of the October 24 game against the Chicago Bears
. The following year, the team improved by one game, but with one game left, team owner William Clay Ford
, unleashed a barrage of criticism on the squad as a whole.
The end result was that Schmidt resigned on January 12, 1973, saying that, "coaching isn't fun anymore." His mood brightened somewhat three weeks later when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, but Schmidt never again coached and spent the next three decades as a manufacturer's representative.
Joe Schmidt's career mark as a coach was 43-35-7; with the exception of Gary Moeller
(who coached just seven games, winning four), he is the most recent Lions coach with a winning record.
Schmidt's personality was that of a perfectionist, perhaps one reason why his coaching was not as successful as his playing. He once stated, "I expect everyone to be like me. I guess that's a mistake."
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 at both the collegiate and professional levels. His 13-year career with 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...
's 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...
gained him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1973.
Collegiate career
Schmidt grew up in PittsburghPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the borough of Brentwood
Brentwood, Pennsylvania
Brentwood is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 9,643 at the 2010 census.-Geography and climate:Brentwood is located at ....
and attended 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...
, playing on the school's football team for three years from 1950–1952. His hard-nosed play and leadership were an integral part of the team during those three years, with his inspirational pre-game speech helping the Panthers upset a heavily-favored team from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, 22–19, on October 11, 1952. One player later commented, "Hell, we were more afraid of Schmidt than Notre Dame."
Despite these attributes, Schmidt's size (6 ft, 195 lb; 1.8 m, 88 kg) worked against him in the NFL draft, when the Lions waited until the seventh round to select him. It was not until his arrival at the 1953 College All-Star Game
College All-Star Game
The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a preseason American football game played annually from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year...
that the Lion coaches, who were opposing him in the contest, saw his talent on display.
Professional career
Schmidt worked his way into the lineup, helping Detroit to its second straight NFL title as a rookie. By 1956, Schmidt was named a team captain, a designation he would hold for the next nine years, with his defensive skills resulting in his calling signals for the team.The latter duty resulted in an amusing, if painful, moment for Schmidt that year, when many teams were experimenting with radio receivers to send signals. On one occasion, Lions' assistant coach Buster Ramsey was so upset after one play that he slammed the radio receiver to the ground, with Schmidt jumping after being on the noisy end of Ramsey's anger.
The following year, Schmidt was named the top defensive player in the NFL, when he made roughly half of the team's tackles on the season. The award was the first of four times that he would receive the honor, with his outstanding play an important part of the Lions' third title in six years. However, Schmidt's 1957 salary of $11,000 became a sticking point before the start of the next season, and after six months of military service during the off-season, Schmidt was a holdout as training camp began. He later signed and finished the year with six interceptions, while also establishing a new NFL record that year by recovering eight fumbles.
Schmidt's physical toughness was put on greater display as injuries began to strike in 1960. After suffering a dislocated shoulder in the September 11 exhibition game, Schmidt was expected to miss six weeks, but instead was back after a month and scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on October 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Two years later, Schmidt battled bruised ribs, but after the year had ended, his career was in peril for activities off the field when he became involved in a gambling investigation. After he admitted wagering on the 1962 NFL Championship game between 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...
and New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Schmidt (along with four teammates) was fined $2,000.
In each of the next two seasons, shoulder troubles continued, but Schmidt continued to be the focal point of the Lions defense.
In 1999, he was ranked number 65 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Number 65 was also his uniform number at Pitt, and the school retired it. As a Lion, he wore number 56, and this number was retired as well. Schmidt personally allowed Pat Swilling
Pat Swilling
Patrick Travis Swilling is a former American football linebacker in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and a delegate in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He earned five Pro Bowl appearances.-College career:...
to wear the number 56 during Swilling's time with the Lions. No player has worn it since.
Coaching career
After a 1965 season in which he intercepted four passes, he announced his retirement on March 10, 1966, and was soon named as a Detroit assistant coach. During that year, he tutored linebackers Mike LucciMike Lucci
Mike Lucci is a former National Football League player for the Cleveland Browns for 3 seasons from 1962 to 1964 and 9 seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1965 to 1973. Lucci played collegiately at the University of Tennessee and for one year at the University of Pittsburgh.He was a 6'2", 230-pound...
, who went on to a productive Pro Bowl career with the team, and Wally Hilgenberg
Wally Hilgenberg
Walter Hilgenberg was a professional American football player.Hilgenberg was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1942. His family moved to Wilton where he grew up and graduated from Wilton High School....
, who later was an effective member of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
' defense.
After two years of continued conflict with players, Lions' head coach Harry Gilmer
Harry Gilmer
Harry Vincent Gilmer, Jr. is a former American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.-Early life:...
was let go and Schmidt was hired to replace him for 1967. In taking control, Schmidt instilled discipline by establishing curfews and trading unhappy players. The end result that first year was a 5–7–2 mark, but his attempts at improving the team after the season almost resulted in his resignation. Seeing the need for a quarterback, Schmidt attempted to trade for former Lion teammate Jim Ninowski
Jim Ninowski
James Ninowski, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played college football at Michigan State University and was drafted in the fourth...
, but was rejected by management. By the time the 1968 NFL season
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...
began, Schmidt had settled on former 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,...
signal caller Bill Munson
Bill Munson
William Alan Munson was a professional American football quarterback who played in 16 NFL seasons from 1964 through 1979 for five different teams. He was 6'2" and weighed 203 lbs. He was best known for his years as a starter for the Detroit Lions in the mid-1970s...
.
That year, Schmidt heard perhaps the first boos ever by Detroit fans when he ran out the clock, instead of trying to break a 20–20 deadlock against Green Bay. By season's end, the team had finished one game worse than the year before. In 1969, his playing career was honored when he was selected the "Greatest Lion Ever" in conjunction with the NFL's 50th anniversary, and his team also showed strong improvement, finishing 9–4–1 on the campaign. Just hours after the team defeated the 11–2 Rams 28–0 on December 14, Schmidt's celebrating caught up with him when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Schmidt's best season came the following year when the Lions were 10–4 to make the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The most important win of the year came in a December 14 Monday night clash at Los Angeles, where they defeated the Rams 28–23, while the most heartbreaking loss came on November 8, when Tom Dempsey
Tom Dempsey
Thomas Dempsey is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints , Philadelphia Eagles , Los Angeles Rams , Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills . He attended high school at San Dieguito High School and played college football at Palomar College...
's record 63-yard field goal beat Detroit 19–17. After that game, Schmidt demoted Munson in favor of third-year quarterback Greg Landry
Greg Landry
Gregory Paul Landry is a former American football player and coach who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1968 to 1981 and again in 1984...
. The playoff run was short, however, as the Dallas Cowboys won a defensive battle, 5–0, on December 26.
In 1971, the team slipped to a 7–6–1 record, but the decline paled in comparison to the death of Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes
Chuck Hughes
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Hughes was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League from 1967 to 1971. He is, to date, the only NFL player to die on the field during a game.-Early years:...
in the waning moments of the October 24 game against 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...
. The following year, the team improved by one game, but with one game left, team owner William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford may refer to:*William Clay Ford, Sr., grandson of Henry Ford, son of Edsel Ford and owner of the Detroit Lions*William Clay Ford, Jr., great-grandson of Henry Ford, son of William Clay Ford, Sr., chairman of Ford Motor Company...
, unleashed a barrage of criticism on the squad as a whole.
The end result was that Schmidt resigned on January 12, 1973, saying that, "coaching isn't fun anymore." His mood brightened somewhat three weeks later when he was elected to the Hall of Fame, but Schmidt never again coached and spent the next three decades as a manufacturer's representative.
Joe Schmidt's career mark as a coach was 43-35-7; with the exception of Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
(who coached just seven games, winning four), he is the most recent Lions coach with a winning record.
Schmidt's personality was that of a perfectionist, perhaps one reason why his coaching was not as successful as his playing. He once stated, "I expect everyone to be like me. I guess that's a mistake."