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Steve Owen (football)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Joseph Owen was an American football
player
and coach
who earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
as head coach
of the National Football League
's New York Giants
from 1930
to 1953
. Owen's skill at designing defenses
, his fundamental approach to the game, and his innovative "A Formation
," a variation on the single-wing, also helped his offenses
thrive and served as the keys to his success. His tenure is remembered today by the odd congruence of his gravelly voice and easy disposition, as well as his perpetual tobacco
chewing.
area of the Oklahoma Territory
, where his original goal was to become a jockey
, a dream denied by his 5-11, 230 pound frame that earned him the nickname, "Stout Steve." In addition to working on a cattle ranch, Owen attended Phillips University
in Enid, Oklahoma
where he was an all-around athlete for two years beginning in 1917. Adding to his income during this period, he wrestled
professionally under the name "Jack O'Brien," a ruse that allowed him to preserve his amateur status.
. In 1924, he began playing football professionally, earning $50 a game for the NFL's Kansas City Cowboys
, who played all their games on the road, and after splitting time the following year between the Cowboys and the Cleveland Bulldogs
, he was sold in 1926 to the Giants for $500, joining his brother Bill
in New York
. After initially trying to get a cut of the purchase price from Cowboys coach Leroy Andrews
, he later said of the sale:
Owen's leadership became clearly evident during the 1927 NFL season
when he served as captain of a team that outscored opponents 197-20 and was awarded the NFL title with an 11-1-1 record.
By 1930, Owen had become a player-coach
, splitting the duties for the final two games of the season with another future Hall of Famer Benny Friedman
. The 2-0 finish was a hint that Owen would enjoy success when he became sole head coach the following season, accepting the position under a unique arrangement—he never signed a contract, but had a handshake agreement with the Mara family. He retired as a player following the 1931 NFL season
, but briefly came back in 1933, helping the team to an 11-3 record and a berth in the title game, the first of eight appearances the Giants would make during his tenure.
The team slipped to 8-5 during the 1934 campaign, but managed to garner a spot in the NFL Championship game. Facing the 13-0 Chicago Bears
, the Giants entered the game as huge underdogs and trailed 13-3 at halftime. The icy conditions and nine-degree weather then forced an adjustment that became a memorable part of National Football League lore
as New York's players donned sneakers and proceeded to run off 27 unanswered points for a 30-13 victory and the team's first title. More than seven decades later, the contest is still remembered as, "The Sneakers Game
."
Despite the institution of the NFL Draft
due to the continued dominance of the Bears and Giants, the Giants returned to the championship game in 1935
, then went on to win their final title under Owen in 1938
. In the latter contest, the Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers
23-17, despite being outgained in yardage, 379-208, using two blocked punts to collect nine points. New York made four more appearances in the title clash, but never again would be champion under Owen.
In 1950
, the Giants faced a powerful new foe with the arrival of the All-America Football Conference
champion Cleveland Browns
. Despite finishing runnerup in each of the next three seasons, Owen's "Umbrella Defense" that shut down passing attacks made life miserable for the Browns as New York won four of their six regular season meetings, while dropping an 8-3 defensive playoff struggle during the first year.
After the Giants slipped to 3-9 in 1953
, Owen announced his retirement as head coach of the Giants and put in charge of the team's scouting department, ending his 23+ seasons with a record of 150-99-17. After one year away from the sidelines, Owen helped both the University of South Carolina
and Baylor University
during the spring practice, then accepted an assistant's role with the latter school on July 18, 1955.
Just weeks after the end of the 1955 NFL season
, the Philadelphia Eagles
hired Hugh Devore
as head coach, then added Owen as an assistant soon after. Two seasons of struggling in Philadelphia resulted in the entire coaching staff's dismissal, with Owen eventually returning to the coaching ranks as interim head coach of the Canadian Football League
's Toronto Argonauts
on September 21, 1959.
The Argonauts declined Owen's application to be full-time coach for the 1960 season, but retained him as a scout and advisor. He was hired by the league's Calgary Stampeders
on August 23, 1960 to be interim head coach, again finishing up the year before being replaced. On December 29 of that year, he was named head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, a team that had won just once during the previous campaign. Owen's 1961
team nearly reached the playoffs, then competed in them the following year and earned CFL Coach of the Year accolades. However, after suffering a heart attack that year, Owen announced his resignation on January 6, 1963.
Not able to stay away from the sport, Owen was hired as head coach of the United Football League's Syracuse Stormers on March 20, 1963, but then was again named a scout for the Giants that November. Unfortunately, the latter position would last only a short while when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. After eight days of lying in critical condition, he died on May 17, 1964.
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
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
and coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
who earned 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...
as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of 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 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...
from 1930
1930 New York Giants season
The 1930 New York Giants season was the sixth season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:*...
to 1953
1953 New York Giants season
The 1953 New York Giants season was the 29th season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-New York Giants coaching vacancy:...
. Owen's skill at designing defenses
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
, his fundamental approach to the game, and his innovative "A Formation
A Formation
In American football, the A formation was a variation of the single-wing formation used with great success by the New York Giants of the 1930s and early 1940s...
," a variation on the single-wing, also helped his offenses
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...
thrive and served as the keys to his success. His tenure is remembered today by the odd congruence of his gravelly voice and easy disposition, as well as his perpetual tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
chewing.
Early life
Owen was born and raised in a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
area of the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
, where his original goal was to become a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
, a dream denied by his 5-11, 230 pound frame that earned him the nickname, "Stout Steve." In addition to working on a cattle ranch, Owen attended Phillips University
Phillips University
Phillips University was a private, coeducational institution of higher education located in Enid, Oklahoma, United States, from 1906 to 1998. It was affiliated with the Christian Church . It included an undergraduate college and a graduate seminary...
in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
where he was an all-around athlete for two years beginning in 1917. Adding to his income during this period, he wrestled
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
professionally under the name "Jack O'Brien," a ruse that allowed him to preserve his amateur status.
Football career
Owen served in the U.S. Army training corps, then returned to coach one year at Phillips before accepting a position in the oil fields of the Southwestern United StatesSouthwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. In 1924, he began playing football professionally, earning $50 a game for the NFL's Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City (NFL)
Kansas City, Missouri had a National Football League team prior to the Chiefs that operated under two different names: The Blues in 1924 and the Cowboys from 1925-1926. The Blues competed as a traveling team, playing all of their NFL games in other cities' stadia in their only year under that name...
, who played all their games on the road, and after splitting time the following year between the Cowboys and the Cleveland Bulldogs
Cleveland Bulldogs
The Cleveland Bulldogs was a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922...
, he was sold in 1926 to the Giants for $500, joining his brother Bill
Bill Owen (American football)
William Criswell Owen was an American football player for the New York Giants who was the brother of Hall of Fame coach Steve Owen-External links:...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. After initially trying to get a cut of the purchase price from Cowboys coach Leroy Andrews
LeRoy Andrews
LeRoy B. Andrew, or commonly Roy Andrew, was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Pittsburg State University. In 1923, he played for the St. Louis All Stars. From 1924 to 1927, he was a player-coach for the Kansas City Blues/Cowboys and the Cleveland Bulldogs...
, he later said of the sale:
Owen's leadership became clearly evident during the 1927 NFL season
1927 NFL season
The 1927 NFL season was the 8th regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, the league decided to eliminate the financially weaker teams. As a result, the league dropped from 22 to 12 teams, and a majority of the remaining teams were centered around the East Coast instead...
when he served as captain of a team that outscored opponents 197-20 and was awarded the NFL title with an 11-1-1 record.
By 1930, Owen had become a player-coach
Player-coach
A player-coach, in sports, is a member of a sports team who simultaneously holds both playing and coaching duties. The term can be used to refer to both players who serve as head coaches, or as assistant coaches....
, splitting the duties for the final two games of the season with another future Hall of Famer Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan , Cleveland Bulldogs , Detroit Wolverines , New York Giants , and Brooklyn Dodgers .He is generally considered the first great passer in professional football...
. The 2-0 finish was a hint that Owen would enjoy success when he became sole head coach the following season, accepting the position under a unique arrangement—he never signed a contract, but had a handshake agreement with the Mara family. He retired as a player following the 1931 NFL season
1931 NFL season
The 1931 NFL season was the 12th regular season of the National Football League. The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes...
, but briefly came back in 1933, helping the team to an 11-3 record and a berth in the title game, the first of eight appearances the Giants would make during his tenure.
The team slipped to 8-5 during the 1934 campaign, but managed to garner a spot in the NFL Championship game. Facing the 13-0 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 Giants entered the game as huge underdogs and trailed 13-3 at halftime. The icy conditions and nine-degree weather then forced an adjustment that became a memorable part of National Football League lore
National Football League lore
National Football League lore is a collection of information that NFL fans retain and share.Since the NFL was founded in 1920, it has grown from an informal network of teams based mostly in small towns and cities into the most popular and successful sports league in the United States...
as New York's players donned sneakers and proceeded to run off 27 unanswered points for a 30-13 victory and the team's first title. More than seven decades later, the contest is still remembered as, "The Sneakers Game
NFL Championship Game, 1934
The 1934 National Football League Championship Game, also known as The Sneakers Game, was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City on December 9, 1934. The final score was New York Giants 30, Chicago Bears 13. It was the 2nd annual NFL championship game.A freezing rain the night before the game...
."
Despite the institution of the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
due to the continued dominance of the Bears and Giants, the Giants returned to the championship game in 1935
1935 NFL season
The 1935 NFL season was the 16th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions defeated the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game....
, then went on to win their final title under Owen in 1938
1938 NFL season
The 1938 NFL season was the 19th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the New York Giants defeated the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship Game.-Major rule changes:...
. In the latter contest, the Giants defeated 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...
23-17, despite being outgained in yardage, 379-208, using two blocked punts to collect nine points. New York made four more appearances in the title clash, but never again would be champion under Owen.
In 1950
1950 NFL season
The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game. The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to have all of its games – both...
, the Giants faced a powerful new foe with the arrival of the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
champion 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...
. Despite finishing runnerup in each of the next three seasons, Owen's "Umbrella Defense" that shut down passing attacks made life miserable for the Browns as New York won four of their six regular season meetings, while dropping an 8-3 defensive playoff struggle during the first year.
After the Giants slipped to 3-9 in 1953
1953 NFL season
The 1953 NFL season was the 34th regular season of the National Football League. The names of the American and National conferences were changed to the Eastern and Western conferences....
, Owen announced his retirement as head coach of the Giants and put in charge of the team's scouting department, ending his 23+ seasons with a record of 150-99-17. After one year away from the sidelines, Owen helped both the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
and Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
during the spring practice, then accepted an assistant's role with the latter school on July 18, 1955.
Just weeks after the end of the 1955 NFL season
1955 NFL season
The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game...
, 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...
hired Hugh Devore
Hugh Devore
Hugh John Devore was a football player and coach whose close connection to the University of Notre Dame saw him serve in both capacities, while also seeing time as head coach at two other colleges as well as the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.-Early career:Devore was born and...
as head coach, then added Owen as an assistant soon after. Two seasons of struggling in Philadelphia resulted in the entire coaching staff's dismissal, with Owen eventually returning to the coaching ranks as interim head coach of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
on September 21, 1959.
The Argonauts declined Owen's application to be full-time coach for the 1960 season, but retained him as a scout and advisor. He was hired by the league's Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
on August 23, 1960 to be interim head coach, again finishing up the year before being replaced. On December 29 of that year, he was named head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, a team that had won just once during the previous campaign. Owen's 1961
1961 CFL season
The 1961 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 8th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 4th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1961:...
team nearly reached the playoffs, then competed in them the following year and earned CFL Coach of the Year accolades. However, after suffering a heart attack that year, Owen announced his resignation on January 6, 1963.
Not able to stay away from the sport, Owen was hired as head coach of the United Football League's Syracuse Stormers on March 20, 1963, but then was again named a scout for the Giants that November. Unfortunately, the latter position would last only a short while when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. After eight days of lying in critical condition, he died on May 17, 1964.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile