Lew Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Lewis Glen "Lew" Carpenter (January 12, 1932 – November 14, 2010) was an American football
player and coach. He played college football
at the University of Arkansas
and professionally for ten seasons in the NFL
as a halfback
and fullback
with the Detroit Lions
, Cleveland Browns
, and Green Bay Packers
. After his playing career ended, Carpenter spent 31 years as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings
(1964–1966), Atlanta Falcons
(1967–1968), Washington Redskins
(1969), St. Louis Cardinals
(1970–1972), Houston Oilers (1970–1974), Green Bay Packers (1975–1985), Detroit Lions (1987–1988), and Philadelphia Eagles
(1990–1994). Carpenter also coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
of the World League of American Football
in 1996 and at Southwest Texas State University
. He concluded his 47 years of playing and coaching football at the end of the 1996 season.
. He was raised in West Memphis, Arkansas
, where he attended high school and played six-man football. His brother, Preston Carpenter
(19342011), married Jeanne Eytchison and the couple had three sons: Scott, Bruce, and Lewis Todd.
In 1951, Lew married Ann Holt. The couple had four daughters; Cheryl Doane, Cathy, Lisa Prewitt and Rebecca. He also had ten grandchildren; Chad, Jennifer and Travis Cory (deceased) Doane, Ketzal, Rivelino,and Alisha Carpenter, Natalie Prewitt, Tyler Wendland, Parker Carpenter and Annika Blomquist. Carpenter was a descendant of Thomas "Jack" Carpenter (born 1740 Virginia and died 1803 in North Carolina).
(1949–1953), Carpenter starred at the halfback position for the Razorbacks
. As a senior, he played in the Blue-Grey College All-Star Game. Carpenter also played wide receiver
, tight end
, and served as back-up quarterback
during his college years. Carpenter received varsity letter
s in football, basketball
, and baseball
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree in biology
.
Carpenter played baseball after his 1953 senior year in college in the minor (then class B) Carolina League
, as a pitcher, with the Winston-Salem Cardinals. During this season he had a batting average of .286 under manager Jimmy Brown. Scouts for the NFL also offered him a contract and football beat baseball in this circumstance.
played: defensive half back
, fullback, halfback
, and offensive half back/running back
. Carpenter was listed at a height of 6 foot 2 inches and had a playing weight from 205 to 220 pounds and was considered fast afoot.
Carpenter was assigned mostly to the halfback position. In American football
, it is commonly viewed as a requirement for a team's success. They are responsible for carrying the ball on the majority of running plays, and may frequently be used as a receiver
on short passing plays. Today, when not serving either of these functions, the primary responsibility of a halfback is to aid the offensive linemen in blocking, but this was not common in the 1950s and early 1960s. Sometimes the halfback, also known as the tailback, can catch the ball from the backfield as he is an eligible receiver
. Many of these functions are described today as for the running back
position, fit the 1950s & 1960s halfback. It was all a matter of position in the back field.
Carpenter also played as a fullback, which is a position in the offensive
backfield in American
and Canadian football
, and it is one of the two back field positions supporting the quarterback
. Today, fullbacks are larger in size than halfbacks and in most offensive schemes their duties are split between power running and blocking for the quarterback.
by the National Football League
for the Detroit Lions
in the eighth round of the draft, 97th selection. The very first time in game play he got the football, he scored a 73-yard touchdown on an interception.
For the next three seasons Carpenter played as a running back
. He was the leading rusher and won his first world championship in 1953.
In 1954, Carpenter led Detroit with 476 rushing yards and in 1955, 543 yards. Over his three seasons with the Lions, he rushed for 1,043 yards, with 60 pass receptions (457 yards gained and 4 TDs), and scored 10 touchdowns (TDs).
Carpenter's football career was placed on hold when he was drafted
by the United States Army
. He served honorably during an 18-month tour in Germany
.
where he played with Preston Carpenter
, his brother. While with the Browns he helped them win two world championships.
In 1957, the Browns drafted fullback Jim Brown
out of Syracuse University
, who became the NFL's leading rusher with 942 yards in a 12-game regular season. Once again at the top of the division at 9 win, 2 loss and 1 tied game season, they advanced back to the Championship Game
against Detroit. But the Lions dominated from start to finish, causing six turnovers and allowing the Browns' two quarterbacks (Tommy O'Connell and Milt Plum
) only 95 yards passing in a 59 to 14 major loss. This was the Lions' last league championship.
In 1958, Jim Brown ran for 1,527 yards, almost twice as much as any other running back. In his nine seasons in the league, he crossed the 1,000 yard barrier seven times. Lew Carpenter and his brother Preston, both backs, supported Brown in his legendary time with the Cleveland Browns.
On November 3, 1957, during the third quarter, Browns Vs. Redskins game, the rookie Brown had one of his good days. The big fullback Brown carried the ball 21 times with 109 yards. Brown and Lew Carpenter "shared the burden in the final time consuming march of 49 yards" for the touchdown. Later in the fourth quarter, the Browns were in trouble with less than 5 minutes to play. Jim Brown carried the ball four times while Lew carried it eight times (the last six carries in a row). With a 4th down and 8 yards to go, the Browns needed a first down. Lew went "sweeping his left end behind good blocking carrying for 12 yards." The Browns had its first place title and the win of 21 to 17.
On the last winning game of the 1958 season, (December 7, 1958 a 21 to 14 win over the Eagles) during the first quarter, Brown racked up 138 yards in 21 plays. "Sharing the rushing laurels was Lew Carpenter, who picked his way for 100 yards in 21 carries. Finally the Eagles had to concentrate on the hard nosed runner from Arkansas ..." Carpenter was now a valuable player and wanted by other teams.
got a key trade by getting Lew Carpenter to come to Green Bay, Wisconsin
and to play for the Packers
. Carpenter's first game under Lombardi came quickly. On September 27, 1959, a sellout crowd packed Green Bay's Lambeau Field
for the first Packer game of the regular season against the Chicago Bears
. On the Packers first offensive play, a new Lombardi technique was seen. "Packer halfback Paul Hornung
took a handoff from the quarterback, ran to his left and threw the ball downfield to a wide open receiver near the goal line." The crowd jumped to its feet, cheering at this new tactic! Then, the receiver, "Lew Carpenter dropped the ball."
At halftime in the locker room, Coach Lombardi concluded his pep talk with, "And now, men of Green Bay, step aside. Make way for the mightiest Green Bay team in years! A Winning team! Go get 'em, Green Bay!" In response, Carpenter and the rest of the Packers slammed their lockers, growled loudly, and assaulted the field in determination. During the rest of the game, the Bears watched Carpenter closely, seeing him as a threat. The Packers adjusted tactics and used Carpenter repeatedly as bait while another player got the critical touchdown. At the end of the game, the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears by a score of 9 to 6. The Packer players raised Lombardi to their shoulders and ran with him in victory. "We're on our way Now!" shouted Lombardi.
After winning their first three games, the Packers lost the next five due to injuries, including Carpenter's. Returning, Carpenter and his team finished strong by winning the rest of the season. The 7 win & 5 loss record
represented the Packers' first winning season since 1947. Rookie head coach Lombardi was named Coach of the Year
. For the Pack this was the start of the Glory Years.
The next year, the Packers
, led by Paul Hornung's 176 points, and assisted by running back Carpenter, won the NFL West title and played in the NFL Championship
against the Philadelphia Eagles
at Philadelphia
. In a see saw game, the Packers trailed the Eagles by four points late in the game, when Chuck Bednarik
tackled Jim Taylor just nine yards short of the goal line as time ran out. The Packers claimed that they did not "lose" that game; they were simply behind in the score when time ran out on them.
The Packers
returned to the NFL Championship game
the following season and faced the New York Giants
in the first league title game to be played in Green Bay. The Packers scored 24 second-quarter points assisted by Carpenter, including a championship-record 19 by Paul Hornung, on special loan from the Army
(one touchdown, four extra-points and three field goals), powering the Packers to a 37 to 0 major win over the Giants, their first NFL Championship since 1944.
The Packers
stormed back in the 1962 season
, jumping out to a 10 win & 0 loss start, on their way to a 13 wins & 1 loss season. This consistent level of success would lead to Lombardi's Packers becoming one of the most prominent teams of their era, and even to their being featured as the face of the NFL on the cover of Time
on December 21, 1962, as part of the magazine's cover story on "The Sport of the '60s" and Lew Carpenter is mentioned in the article as one of the Packer's star players. Shortly after Time's article, the Packers faced the Giants
in a much more brutal championship game
than the previous year, but the Packers prevailed on the surprising foot of Jerry Kramer
and the determined running of Jim Taylor. The Packers defeated the Giants in New York, 16 to 7. Carpenter re-injured himself but finished the game. During this season Carpenter assisted other players in their game, gaining the informal title of "coach."
In 1963, Paul Hournung was suspended for the season for betting on football. This caused Carpenter and others to make more than extra efforts for the team. While the Packers had a respectful 11 win and 1 loss season, it was at great cost. Many players injured themselves and re-injured themselves like Carpenter. This season was a frustration for Carpenter for he played his heart and body to the point of exhaustion. Coach Lombardi placed Carpenter as a reserve running back, but had to play him time after time for the winning effort. After four full seasons of play with the Packers, Carpenter concluded his professional football playing days at the end of the 1963 season.
Carpenter played 123 professional football games, He finished his 10 year career with 2,025 yards and 16 touchdowns on 468 carries. He also caught 87 passes for 782 yards.
. He served in various coaching positions and teams over the next 30 years. These included receivers coach, passing game coach and offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons
and the Washington Redskins
.
Carpenter coached alongside Vince Lombardi
then coached for St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals
), the Houston Oilers, the Green Bay Packers
, the Detroit Lions
and the Philadelphia Eagles
. Along the way, he mentored many upcoming Pro Bowl
players.
, Fran Tarkenton
and Carl Eller
.
franchise, the 23rd professional football club and the 15th NFL franchise. In 1967, the Falcons played in the new Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
. The first preseason game was held on August 1, 1966, before a crowd of 26,072 at Atlanta Stadium. Under Head Coach Norb Hecker
, the Falcons became the only expansion team in history not to finish in last place their first year. The Falcons finished seventh out of eight teams in the NFL's Eastern Conference. Carpenter helped coach the Falcons first victory on November 20, 1966, defeating the New York Giants
, 27 to 16, at Yankee Stadium. Tommy Nobis
, first draft pick and coached by Carpenter was voted to the Pro Bowl
and named 1966 Rookie of the Year.
Carpenter participated in many pivotal events for the newly created American football team called the Atlanta Falcons
.
1967 was disappointing for the Falcons. They finished their season at 1–12–1. Tommy Nobis (LB) was named to his second Pro Bowl and Junior Coffey
(RB) ended the year with 722 yards to finish as the eighth leading rusher in the league and the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player
and Carpenter helped coach them both.
1968 - The former Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings Norm Van Brocklin
was named to replace Norb Hecker as Falcon's head coach after only three games of the 1968 season. Carpenter worked with Van Brocklin, who he knew as a player and a coach.
Carpenter helped coach two future Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
winners. These were Tommy Nobis and Claude Humphry.
, the Washington Redskins
hired Vince Lombardi
, who gained fame with the Green Bay Packers
, to be their new head coach.
Lombardi reorganized the Redskins and brought along a couple of coaches he worked with before, including Bill Austin
for the offensive line and Lew Carpenter for the receivers. Carpenter was listed as the Packers passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator Coach over various seasons.
Lombardi led the Redskins to a 7 win & 2 loss record, their best since 1955, but died of cancer
on the eve of the 1970 season. Carpenter was in the running to replace Lombardi as head coach, but Redskins assistant coach Bill Austin
(the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach) was chosen instead during 1970
and produced a record of 6–8. Carpenter decided to coach elsewhere.
Carpenter coached only one season with the Redskins as the receivers and tight ends coach. His coaching and efforts had an influence on the 1969 season and future game play. Those Vikings who became inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
include Sonny Jurgensen
in 1983, Charley Taylor
in 1984, Bobby Mitchell
in 1983 and Sam Huff
in 1982 were helped in one way or the other by Carpenter. Carpenter's General Manager
during his assistant coaching tenure was George Preston Marshall
who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969. One of the Redskin's assistant coaches who worked with Carpenter, Mike McCormack was inducted in 1984. Vince Lombardi
, the unforgettable coach, was inducted in 1971.
moved to St. Louis, Missouri
, in 1960
and stayed there until 1987
. Then the franchise moved to Tempe, Arizona
and became the Arizona Cardinals
. When Carpenter got there in 1970 the club had many nicknames such as, the "football Cardinals," "Big Red", "Gridbirds" or "Cardiac Cards" to avoid confusion with the baseball St. Louis Cardinals
.
"Coach Lew" went to St. Louis as a receivers and tight end coach for head coach Bob Holloway.
Two brothers, Charles W. Bidwell, Jr. and William V. Bidwell (sons of the 1933-1947 Cardinal franchise owner Charles W. Bidwell, Sr. and the 1947–1962 owner, the widow, Mrs. Violet Bidwell) had joint custody of the franchise from 1962 to 1972. That was the year William V. Bidwell took sole control as managing general partner and made many changes in the coaching staff and players.
Carpenter did work with and help coach future Pro Football Hall of Fame winners during his time with the Cardinals. These included Dan Dierdorf
inducted in 1996, Jackie Smith
inducted in 1994, Larry Wilson
inducted in 1978 and Roger Wehrli
inducted in 2007.
won his 3rd Pro Bowl team spot. In 1974, the Oilers won their season opener at home by defeating the San Diego Chargers
with a 21 to 14 win. The 1974 season was the best year with a 7 win & 7 loss season. And best of all, they defeated their rival Cleveland Browns
for the first time ever with a 28 to 24 victory.
Carpenter was the receivers and tight ends coach brought in by the new Oiler general manager Sid Gilman to work with head coach Bill Peterson
and stayed during Gilman's tenure. After Peterson was fired in October 1973, Gilman took over as head coach. Gillman was inducted as a coach into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1983 and the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1989.
Carpenter worked with and helped coach future Pro Football Hall of Fame
winners during his time the Oilers. These include Elvin Bethea
inducted in 2003 and Ken Houston
inducted in 1986. Head coach Sid Gilman was inducted in 1989.
under head coaches (HC) Bart Starr
(1975––1983) and Forrest Gregg
(1984–1987) from 1975 to 1985.
Poor personnel decisions typified this Packer time period. A notorious example includes the 1974 trade in which Dan Devine (HC 1971–1974) acting as GM sent five 1975 and 1976 draft picks (two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third rounder) to the Los Angeles Rams for aging quarterback John Hadl
, who would spend only 1½ seasons in Green Bay. This continued in the 1989
, when players such as Barry Sanders
, Deion Sanders
, and Derrick Thomas
were available, but the Packers chose offensive lineman Tony Mandarich
with the second overall pick in the NFL draft. Though rated highly by nearly every professional scout at the time, Mandarich's performance failed to meet expectations. ESPN
has rated Mandarich as the third "biggest sports flop" in the last 25 years. This must have been a frustrating time for Carpenter but he focused on the basics and coached on for his beloved Packers.
Carpenter worked with and/or coached with the following Pro Football Hall of Famers during his coaching tenure with the Packers. These include coach Bart Starr
who was inducted as a player in 1977, coach Forrest Gregg
who was inducted as a player in 1977 and James Lofton
, inducted in 2003.
receivers and tight ends coach for 1987 and 1988. He worked with head coaches Darry Rogers and Wayne Fontes
.
At the end of the 1988 season, Fontes hired Mouse Davis
and June Jones
as assistants and installed the Run & Shoot offense. This required the letting go of Carpenter and other assistant coaches. Fontes would later abandon the Run & Shoot offense.
Carpenter worked with and/or helped coach the following Pro Football Hall of Famers. These include Lem Barney
inducted in 1992, Barry Sanders
inducted in 2004 and coach Dick LeBeau
inducted as a player in 2010.
Carpenter again coached James Lofton.
and was the running backs coach under head coach Jim Bob Helduser. In 1989, Carpenter had coached at the Southwest Texas State University
as a backfield coach under head coach John O’Hara. In 1996, Carpenter coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
of the World League of American Football
.
. Carpenter's last public appearance was in Green Bay's Lambeau Field for the "Alumni Weekend" on September 16 and 17, 2010.
Carpenter was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, and the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
The "Lewis Carpenter University of Arkansas Scholarship" has been established in his memory through Chase Bank
in New Braunfels, Texas
.
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 the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and professionally for ten seasons in the NFL
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...
as a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
with 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...
, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and 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...
. After his playing career ended, Carpenter spent 31 years as an assistant coach in the NFL with 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...
(1964–1966), Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1967–1968), 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,...
(1969), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1970–1972), Houston Oilers (1970–1974), Green Bay Packers (1975–1985), Detroit Lions (1987–1988), and 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...
(1990–1994). Carpenter also coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
of the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
in 1996 and at Southwest Texas State University
Texas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...
. He concluded his 47 years of playing and coaching football at the end of the 1996 season.
Early years and family
Carpenter was born to Verba Glen Carpenter and Edna Earl Pullam in Hayti, MissouriHayti, Missouri
Hayti is a city in Pemiscot County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.In 1955, a small earthquake broke windows in the village.- Geography :Hayti is located at ....
. He was raised in West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 27,666 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 28,181 in 2005, and 31,329 in 2011 ranking it as the state's 11th largest city, behind Hot Springs...
, where he attended high school and played six-man football. His brother, Preston Carpenter
Preston Carpenter
Verba Preston Carpenter was a professional American football player who played wide receiver, tight end, running back and special teams for eleven seasons for five different teams in the National Football League and the American Football League...
(19342011), married Jeanne Eytchison and the couple had three sons: Scott, Bruce, and Lewis Todd.
In 1951, Lew married Ann Holt. The couple had four daughters; Cheryl Doane, Cathy, Lisa Prewitt and Rebecca. He also had ten grandchildren; Chad, Jennifer and Travis Cory (deceased) Doane, Ketzal, Rivelino,and Alisha Carpenter, Natalie Prewitt, Tyler Wendland, Parker Carpenter and Annika Blomquist. Carpenter was a descendant of Thomas "Jack" Carpenter (born 1740 Virginia and died 1803 in North Carolina).
College career
While at the University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
(1949–1953), Carpenter starred at the halfback position for the Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. As a senior, he played in the Blue-Grey College All-Star Game. Carpenter also played 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...
, tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, and served as back-up 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...
during his college years. Carpenter received varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in football, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
.
Carpenter played baseball after his 1953 senior year in college in the minor (then class B) Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, as a pitcher, with the Winston-Salem Cardinals. During this season he had a batting average of .286 under manager Jimmy Brown. Scouts for the NFL also offered him a contract and football beat baseball in this circumstance.
NFL playing career
Carpenter's primary positionsAmerican football positions
In American football, each team has eleven players on the field at one time. Because the rules allow unlimited substitution between plays, the types of players on the field for each team differ depending on the situation...
played: defensive half back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, fullback, halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, and offensive half back/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...
. Carpenter was listed at a height of 6 foot 2 inches and had a playing weight from 205 to 220 pounds and was considered fast afoot.
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...
, it is commonly viewed as a requirement for a team's success. They are responsible for carrying the ball on the majority of running plays, and may frequently be used as a 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...
on short passing plays. Today, when not serving either of these functions, the primary responsibility of a halfback is to aid the offensive linemen in blocking, but this was not common in the 1950s and early 1960s. Sometimes the halfback, also known as the tailback, can catch the ball from the backfield as he is an eligible receiver
Eligible receiver
In American football and Canadian football, not all players on offense are entitled to receive a forward pass. Only an eligible pass receiver may legally catch a forward pass, and only an eligible receiver may advance beyond the neutral zone if a forward pass which crosses the neutral zone is thrown...
. Many of these functions are described today as for the 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...
position, fit the 1950s & 1960s halfback. It was all a matter of position in the back field.
Carpenter also played as a fullback, which is a position in the offensive
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
backfield in American
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...
and Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, and it is one of the two back field positions supporting the 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...
. Today, fullbacks are larger in size than halfbacks and in most offensive schemes their duties are split between power running and blocking for the quarterback.
Detroit Lions
In 1953, Carpenter was draftedDraft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
by 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...
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 the eighth round of the draft, 97th selection. The very first time in game play he got the football, he scored a 73-yard touchdown on an interception.
For the next three seasons Carpenter played as a 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...
. He was the leading rusher and won his first world championship in 1953.
In 1954, Carpenter led Detroit with 476 rushing yards and in 1955, 543 yards. Over his three seasons with the Lions, he rushed for 1,043 yards, with 60 pass receptions (457 yards gained and 4 TDs), and scored 10 touchdowns (TDs).
Carpenter's football career was placed on hold when he was drafted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He served honorably during an 18-month tour in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Cleveland Browns
In 1957, after returning from Germany, Carpenter found himself traded to the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
where he played with Preston Carpenter
Preston Carpenter
Verba Preston Carpenter was a professional American football player who played wide receiver, tight end, running back and special teams for eleven seasons for five different teams in the National Football League and the American Football League...
, his brother. While with the Browns he helped them win two world championships.
In 1957, the Browns drafted fullback Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
out of Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, who became the NFL's leading rusher with 942 yards in a 12-game regular season. Once again at the top of the division at 9 win, 2 loss and 1 tied game season, they advanced back to the Championship Game
NFL Championship Game, 1957
The 1957 National Football League championship game was the 25th annual championship game. The NFL title game was held on December 29, 1957 at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan. The game was the fourth pairing of the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns in the championship game...
against Detroit. But the Lions dominated from start to finish, causing six turnovers and allowing the Browns' two quarterbacks (Tommy O'Connell and Milt Plum
Milt Plum
Milton Ross Plum was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns , Detroit Lions , Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League.-Career:...
) only 95 yards passing in a 59 to 14 major loss. This was the Lions' last league championship.
In 1958, Jim Brown ran for 1,527 yards, almost twice as much as any other running back. In his nine seasons in the league, he crossed the 1,000 yard barrier seven times. Lew Carpenter and his brother Preston, both backs, supported Brown in his legendary time with the Cleveland Browns.
On November 3, 1957, during the third quarter, Browns Vs. Redskins game, the rookie Brown had one of his good days. The big fullback Brown carried the ball 21 times with 109 yards. Brown and Lew Carpenter "shared the burden in the final time consuming march of 49 yards" for the touchdown. Later in the fourth quarter, the Browns were in trouble with less than 5 minutes to play. Jim Brown carried the ball four times while Lew carried it eight times (the last six carries in a row). With a 4th down and 8 yards to go, the Browns needed a first down. Lew went "sweeping his left end behind good blocking carrying for 12 yards." The Browns had its first place title and the win of 21 to 17.
On the last winning game of the 1958 season, (December 7, 1958 a 21 to 14 win over the Eagles) during the first quarter, Brown racked up 138 yards in 21 plays. "Sharing the rushing laurels was Lew Carpenter, who picked his way for 100 yards in 21 carries. Finally the Eagles had to concentrate on the hard nosed runner from Arkansas ..." Carpenter was now a valuable player and wanted by other teams.
Green Bay Packers
In 1959, Coach Vince LombardiVince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
got a key trade by getting Lew Carpenter to come to Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
and to play for the 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...
. Carpenter's first game under Lombardi came quickly. On September 27, 1959, a sellout crowd packed Green Bay's Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
for the first Packer game of the regular season against the Chicago Bears
1959 Chicago Bears season
The 1959 Chicago Bears season was their 40th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted yet another 8-4 record under the coaching of George Halas.-Schedule:-Standings:...
. On the Packers first offensive play, a new Lombardi technique was seen. "Packer halfback Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
took a handoff from the quarterback, ran to his left and threw the ball downfield to a wide open receiver near the goal line." The crowd jumped to its feet, cheering at this new tactic! Then, the receiver, "Lew Carpenter dropped the ball."
At halftime in the locker room, Coach Lombardi concluded his pep talk with, "And now, men of Green Bay, step aside. Make way for the mightiest Green Bay team in years! A Winning team! Go get 'em, Green Bay!" In response, Carpenter and the rest of the Packers slammed their lockers, growled loudly, and assaulted the field in determination. During the rest of the game, the Bears watched Carpenter closely, seeing him as a threat. The Packers adjusted tactics and used Carpenter repeatedly as bait while another player got the critical touchdown. At the end of the game, the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears by a score of 9 to 6. The Packer players raised Lombardi to their shoulders and ran with him in victory. "We're on our way Now!" shouted Lombardi.
After winning their first three games, the Packers lost the next five due to injuries, including Carpenter's. Returning, Carpenter and his team finished strong by winning the rest of the season. The 7 win & 5 loss record
1959 Green Bay Packers season
The 1959 Green Bay Packers season was their 39th season in the National Football League and 41st overall. The club posted a 7-5 record under first-year coach Vince Lombardi, earning a third-place finish in the National Conference.-NFL Draft:...
represented the Packers' first winning season since 1947. Rookie head coach Lombardi was named Coach of the Year
NFL Coach of the Year Award
The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by the...
. For the Pack this was the start of the Glory Years.
The next year, the Packers
1960 Green Bay Packers season
*First Quarter**GB-Hornung 20 yard FG*Second Quarter**GB-Hornung 23 yard FG**Phi-McDonald 35 yard pass from Van Brocklin **Phi-Walston 15 yard FG*Third Quarter**No scoring*Fourth Quarter...
, led by Paul Hornung's 176 points, and assisted by running back Carpenter, won the NFL West title and played in the NFL Championship
NFL Championship Game, 1960
The 1960 National Football League championship game was the 28th NFL title game. The game was played on Monday, December 26, 1960 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
against the Philadelphia Eagles
1960 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 1960 Philadelphia Eagles season, their 28th in the league, resulted in defeating the Green Bay Packers to win their third NFL Championship. It was their only postseason appearance in the twenty-eight seasons from 1950 to 1977.-Off Season:...
at Philadelphia
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. In a see saw game, the Packers trailed the Eagles by four points late in the game, when Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik
Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
tackled Jim Taylor just nine yards short of the goal line as time ran out. The Packers claimed that they did not "lose" that game; they were simply behind in the score when time ran out on them.
The Packers
1961 Green Bay Packers season
-Regular season:Despite being named NFL MVP, Paul Hornung was briefly lost to the military. In response to the construction of the Berlin Wall, the United States Department of Defense activated thousands of reservists. Two dozen football players were activated, including Paul Hornung, Boyd Dowler...
returned to the NFL Championship game
NFL Championship Game, 1961
The 1961 National Football League championship game was the 29th title game. The game was played at "New" City Stadium, later known as Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 31, 1961...
the following season and faced the New York Giants
1961 New York Giants season
The 1961 New York Giants season was the 37th season for the club in the National Football League. After relinquishing the NFL East title the previous season, the Giants reclaimed the title with a 10–3–1 record, only to lose to the Vince Lombardi-coached Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship...
in the first league title game to be played in Green Bay. The Packers scored 24 second-quarter points assisted by Carpenter, including a championship-record 19 by Paul Hornung, on special loan from the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(one touchdown, four extra-points and three field goals), powering the Packers to a 37 to 0 major win over the Giants, their first NFL Championship since 1944.
The Packers
1962 Green Bay Packers season
The 1962 Green Bay Packers season was their 42nd season in the National Football League. The club posted a 13-1 record under coach Vince Lombardi, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The Packers ended the season by defeating the New York Giants 16-7 in the NFL Championship...
stormed back in the 1962 season
1962 NFL season
The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee....
, jumping out to a 10 win & 0 loss start, on their way to a 13 wins & 1 loss season. This consistent level of success would lead to Lombardi's Packers becoming one of the most prominent teams of their era, and even to their being featured as the face of the NFL on the cover of Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
on December 21, 1962, as part of the magazine's cover story on "The Sport of the '60s" and Lew Carpenter is mentioned in the article as one of the Packer's star players. Shortly after Time's article, the Packers faced the Giants
1962 New York Giants season
The 1962 New York Giants season was the 38th season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-Awards and honors:* Andy Robustelli, Bert Bell Award...
in a much more brutal championship game
NFL Championship Game, 1962
The 1962 National Football League championship game was the 30th NFL title game. The game was played on December 30, 1962 at Yankee Stadium in New York City between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. The attendance for the game was 64,892. The Packers were coached by Hall of Fame coach...
than the previous year, but the Packers prevailed on the surprising foot of Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
and the determined running of Jim Taylor. The Packers defeated the Giants in New York, 16 to 7. Carpenter re-injured himself but finished the game. During this season Carpenter assisted other players in their game, gaining the informal title of "coach."
In 1963, Paul Hournung was suspended for the season for betting on football. This caused Carpenter and others to make more than extra efforts for the team. While the Packers had a respectful 11 win and 1 loss season, it was at great cost. Many players injured themselves and re-injured themselves like Carpenter. This season was a frustration for Carpenter for he played his heart and body to the point of exhaustion. Coach Lombardi placed Carpenter as a reserve running back, but had to play him time after time for the winning effort. After four full seasons of play with the Packers, Carpenter concluded his professional football playing days at the end of the 1963 season.
Carpenter played 123 professional football games, He finished his 10 year career with 2,025 yards and 16 touchdowns on 468 carries. He also caught 87 passes for 782 yards.
Coaching career
In 1964 Carpenter became one of the assistant coaches of the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota 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...
. He served in various coaching positions and teams over the next 30 years. These included receivers coach, passing game coach and offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and 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,...
.
Carpenter coached alongside Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
then coached for St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
), the Houston Oilers, 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. Along the way, he mentored many upcoming 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...
players.
Minnesota Vikings
Carpenter coached several Vikings who were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro 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...
, Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton
Francis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
and Carl Eller
Carl Eller
Carl Eller is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended the University of Minnesota...
.
Atlanta Falcons
In late 1966, Carpenter became one of the first coaches on the new NFL Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
franchise, the 23rd professional football club and the 15th NFL franchise. In 1967, the Falcons played in the new Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
. The first preseason game was held on August 1, 1966, before a crowd of 26,072 at Atlanta Stadium. Under Head Coach Norb Hecker
Norb Hecker
Norbert Earl Hecker was an American football player and coach who was part of eight National Football League championship teams, but may be best remembered as the first head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons....
, the Falcons became the only expansion team in history not to finish in last place their first year. The Falcons finished seventh out of eight teams in the NFL's Eastern Conference. Carpenter helped coach the Falcons first victory on November 20, 1966, defeating the 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...
, 27 to 16, at Yankee Stadium. Tommy Nobis
Tommy Nobis
Thomas Henry Nobis, Jr. is a former American football player. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he was an all-state offensive end and middle linebacker...
, first draft pick and coached by Carpenter was voted to the 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...
and named 1966 Rookie of the Year.
Carpenter participated in many pivotal events for the newly created American football team called the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
1967 was disappointing for the Falcons. They finished their season at 1–12–1. Tommy Nobis (LB) was named to his second Pro Bowl and Junior Coffey
Junior Coffey
Junior Lee Coffey Junior Coffey with 10.2* speed, was one of the finest running backs and defensive linebackers in Texas High School football during the 1960s...
(RB) ended the year with 722 yards to finish as the eighth leading rusher in the league and the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
and Carpenter helped coach them both.
1968 - The former Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings Norm Van Brocklin
Norm Van Brocklin
Norman Mack "Norm" Van Brocklin , nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football player and coach. He was also a first rate punter in college and in the NFL...
was named to replace Norb Hecker as Falcon's head coach after only three games of the 1968 season. Carpenter worked with Van Brocklin, who he knew as a player and a coach.
Carpenter helped coach two future Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame is located in Macon, Georgia. It is the largest state sports hall of fame in America at .-Exhibitions:The Hall of Fame houses over of exhibit space broken down into sections including Hall of Fame Inductees, High School, collegiate sports, Olympic, Paralympic,...
winners. These were Tommy Nobis and Claude Humphry.
Washington Redskins
In 19691969 NFL season
The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the...
, 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,...
hired Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
, who gained fame with 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...
, to be their new head coach.
Lombardi reorganized the Redskins and brought along a couple of coaches he worked with before, including Bill Austin
Bill Austin
William Lee Austin is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League, having played for the New York Giants for seven seasons and served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1966 to 1968.Bill played for Oregon State University in college, earning All-Coast...
for the offensive line and Lew Carpenter for the receivers. Carpenter was listed as the Packers passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator Coach over various seasons.
Lombardi led the Redskins to a 7 win & 2 loss record, their best since 1955, but died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on the eve of the 1970 season. Carpenter was in the running to replace Lombardi as head coach, but Redskins assistant coach Bill Austin
Bill Austin
William Lee Austin is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League, having played for the New York Giants for seven seasons and served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1966 to 1968.Bill played for Oregon State University in college, earning All-Coast...
(the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach) was chosen instead during 1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
and produced a record of 6–8. Carpenter decided to coach elsewhere.
Carpenter coached only one season with the Redskins as the receivers and tight ends coach. His coaching and efforts had an influence on the 1969 season and future game play. Those Vikings who became inducted into 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...
include 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....
in 1983, 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....
in 1984, 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...
in 1983 and Sam Huff
Sam Huff
Robert Lee "Sam" Huff is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982....
in 1982 were helped in one way or the other by Carpenter. Carpenter's General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
during his assistant coaching tenure was George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall was the owner and president of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League from 1932 until his death in 1969.-Contributions:...
who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969. One of the Redskin's assistant coaches who worked with Carpenter, Mike McCormack was inducted in 1984. Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
, the unforgettable coach, was inducted in 1971.
St. Louis Cardinals
The football club St. Louis CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
moved to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, in 1960
1960 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
The 1960 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 41st year with the National Football League and the 1st season in St. Louis, after 40 seasons in Chicago...
and stayed there until 1987
1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
The 1987 season for the St. Louis Cardinals was a struggle, as the team finished with a record of seven wins and eight losses, and missed the playoffs. This was the Cardinals' final season in St. Louis, as the team moved to Tempe, Arizona in March 1988. This move left St...
. Then the franchise moved to Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
and became the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. When Carpenter got there in 1970 the club had many nicknames such as, the "football Cardinals," "Big Red", "Gridbirds" or "Cardiac Cards" to avoid confusion with the baseball St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
"Coach Lew" went to St. Louis as a receivers and tight end coach for head coach Bob Holloway.
Two brothers, Charles W. Bidwell, Jr. and William V. Bidwell (sons of the 1933-1947 Cardinal franchise owner Charles W. Bidwell, Sr. and the 1947–1962 owner, the widow, Mrs. Violet Bidwell) had joint custody of the franchise from 1962 to 1972. That was the year William V. Bidwell took sole control as managing general partner and made many changes in the coaching staff and players.
Carpenter did work with and help coach future Pro Football Hall of Fame winners during his time with the Cardinals. These included Dan Dierdorf
Dan Dierdorf
Daniel Lee "Dan" Dierdorf is a former American football player and current television sportscaster. He played 13 NFL seasons and has worked for ABC's Monday Night Football and CBS as a color commentator since retiring from football....
inducted in 1996, Jackie Smith
Jackie Smith
Jackie Larue Smith is a former professional American football player in the National Football League. He played tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys from 1963 to 1978. He has career marks of 480 receptions, 7,918 yards, and 40 touchdowns...
inducted in 1994, Larry Wilson
Larry Wilson
Larry Frank Wilson is a former American football free safety who played for the St. Louis Cardinals.Wilson attended Rigby High School, where a plaque now hangs noting his accomplishments...
inducted in 1978 and Roger Wehrli
Roger Wehrli
Roger Wehrli is a former National Football League cornerback who played his entire 14-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1969 until 1982. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler after playing college football at the University of Missouri, where he was a consensus All-American and a first-round...
inducted in 2007.
Houston Oilers
In 1973, Carpenter's first coaching season there, the Oilers won only 1 game during the entire season. This was a 31 to 27 win over the Baltimore Colts. On a brighter note, Elvin BetheaElvin Bethea
Elvin Lamont Bethea is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career with the Houston Oilers...
won his 3rd Pro Bowl team spot. In 1974, the Oilers won their season opener at home by defeating the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with a 21 to 14 win. The 1974 season was the best year with a 7 win & 7 loss season. And best of all, they defeated their rival Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the first time ever with a 28 to 24 victory.
Carpenter was the receivers and tight ends coach brought in by the new Oiler general manager Sid Gilman to work with head coach Bill Peterson
Bill Peterson
William E. "Bill" Peterson was an American football coach. His career included head coaching stops at Florida State, Rice University and with the Houston Oilers. Considered one of the unique characters in college sports, Peterson is credited with bringing the pro passing game to college football...
and stayed during Gilman's tenure. After Peterson was fired in October 1973, Gilman took over as head coach. Gillman was inducted as a coach into 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 1983 and the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1989.
Carpenter worked with and helped coach future 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...
winners during his time the Oilers. These include Elvin Bethea
Elvin Bethea
Elvin Lamont Bethea is a former American football defensive end who played his entire career with the Houston Oilers...
inducted in 2003 and Ken Houston
Ken Houston
Kenneth Ray Houston is a former American football defensive back in the American Football League and National Football League...
inducted in 1986. Head coach Sid Gilman was inducted in 1989.
Green Bay Packers
Carpenter was the receivers and tight ends coach for the Green Bay PackersGreen 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...
under head coaches (HC) Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
(1975––1983) and 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...
(1984–1987) from 1975 to 1985.
Poor personnel decisions typified this Packer time period. A notorious example includes the 1974 trade in which Dan Devine (HC 1971–1974) acting as GM sent five 1975 and 1976 draft picks (two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third rounder) to the Los Angeles Rams for aging 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...
, who would spend only 1½ seasons in Green Bay. This continued in the 1989
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 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 23–24 , 1989...
, when players such as Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
, and Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
were available, but the Packers chose offensive lineman Tony Mandarich
Tony Mandarich
Ante Josip "Tony" Mandarich is a former football offensive lineman of the NFL. He was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1989, second overall behind quarterback Troy Aikman, and ahead of the third selection, running back Barry Sanders, the fourth selection, linebacker Derrick...
with the second overall pick in the NFL draft. Though rated highly by nearly every professional scout at the time, Mandarich's performance failed to meet expectations. 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....
has rated Mandarich as the third "biggest sports flop" in the last 25 years. This must have been a frustrating time for Carpenter but he focused on the basics and coached on for his beloved Packers.
Carpenter worked with and/or coached with the following Pro Football Hall of Famers during his coaching tenure with the Packers. These include coach Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
who was inducted as a player in 1977, coach 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...
who was inducted as a player in 1977 and James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
, inducted in 2003.
Detroit Lions
Carpenter was 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...
receivers and tight ends coach for 1987 and 1988. He worked with head coaches Darry Rogers and Wayne Fontes
Wayne Fontes
Wayne Fontes is a former American football coach and college and professional football player who was the head coach of the NFL's Detroit Lions from 1988 to 1996. His 67 wins and 71 losses are each the most for a head coach in team history.-Background and early career:Fontes was born in the...
.
At the end of the 1988 season, Fontes hired Mouse Davis
Mouse Davis
Darrel "Mouse" Davis is an American football coach and former player. A veteran coach at the high school, college, and professional levels, he is currently the wide receivers coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Davis served as the head football coach at Portland State University from...
and June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
as assistants and installed the Run & Shoot offense. This required the letting go of Carpenter and other assistant coaches. Fontes would later abandon the Run & Shoot offense.
Carpenter worked with and/or helped coach the following Pro Football Hall of Famers. These include Lem Barney
Lem Barney
Lemuel Joseph "Lem" Barney is a former American Football cornerback who played for the Detroit Lions. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.-College years:...
inducted in 1992, Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
inducted in 2004 and coach 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...
inducted as a player in 2010.
Philadelphia Eagles
Carpenter was the Eagles wide receivers coach from 1990 to 1992 and the wide receivers/tight ends coach in 1993 and 1994.Carpenter again coached James Lofton.
Later coaching
In 1995, Carpenter went back to Southwest Texas State University, now known as Texas State University–San MarcosTexas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...
and was the running backs coach under head coach Jim Bob Helduser. In 1989, Carpenter had coached at the Southwest Texas State University
Texas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...
as a backfield coach under head coach John O’Hara. In 1996, Carpenter coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
of the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
.
Death and honors
In 1996, after 47 years of playing and coaching professional NFL football, Carpenter reluctantly retired from the game he loved because of his health. On November 14, 2010, with his family at his side, he passed away from pulmonary fibrosisPulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".-Symptoms:Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:...
. Carpenter's last public appearance was in Green Bay's Lambeau Field for the "Alumni Weekend" on September 16 and 17, 2010.
Carpenter was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, and the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
The "Lewis Carpenter University of Arkansas Scholarship" has been established in his memory through Chase Bank
Chase (bank)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., doing business as Chase, is a national bank that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of financial services firm JPMorgan Chase. The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000...
in New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
.
In media
In the 2009 book by John Eisenberg, That First Season: How Vince Lombardi Took the Worst Team in the NFL and Set It on the Path to Glory, Lew Carpenter is mentioned on 30 pages of its 304 hardback pages. Carpenter participated in a 2001 reunion documentary on Vince Lombardi and his Green Bay Packers called With Love & Respect: A Reunion of the Lombardi Green Bay Packers.See also
- American Football League coaches
External links
- Lew Carpenter at Baseball-Reference.com
- Lew Carpenter football cards