Chuck Noll
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2014) |
 Noll in 1954 | |
| No. 65 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Head Coach Guard Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 5, 1932 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died: | June 13, 2014 (aged 82) Sewickley, Pennsylvania |
| Career information | |
| College: | Dayton |
| Career history | |
| Cleveland Browns | |
| Record at Pro Football Reference | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll (January 5, 1932 – June 13, 2014) was a professional American football player, assistant coach and head coach. His sole head coaching position was for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991. Noll has more Super Bowl wins (4) than any other head coach in NFL history, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Noll attended Benedictine High School where he played running back and tackle, winning All-State honors. He won a football scholarship to the University of Dayton. Noll was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1953, where he played until his retirement in 1959 at the age of 27.
Coaching career
Assistant coaching career
Noll was an assistant coach for the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and the NFL Baltimore Colts before becoming the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach. He is considered part of Sid Gillman's coaching tree. Noll was the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Colts (under head coach Don Shula) during their 13–1 season in 1968, in which the team tied the NFL season record for fewest points allowed (144).[1] The 1968 Colts won the NFL championship by routing the Cleveland Browns 34–0 in Cleveland, but were shocked by the upstart AFL champion New York Jets, 16–7, in Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Noll was named the 14th head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 27, 1969, after Penn State coach Joe Paterno turned down an offer for the position. Steelers owner Art Rooney would later credit Don Shula as the person that recommended Noll as a head coach.[2] Noll implemented a defensive system in Pittsburgh that became the legendary "Steel Curtain" defense. His coaching style earned him the nickname of The Emperor Chaz by sports announcer Myron Cope.[3] Noll is the only head coach to win four Super Bowls, coaching the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl IX (1975), Super Bowl X (1976), Super Bowl XIII (1979), and Super Bowl XIV (1980).
The key to Noll's coaching success during this unprecedented run was the Steelers' skill in selecting outstanding players in the NFL college player draft. Noll's first round one pick was Joe Greene, a defensive tackle from North Texas State, who went on to become a perennial All-Pro and anchor the defensive line. During the next few years, the Steelers drafted quarterback Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech) and running back Franco Harris (Penn State) as round one picks. In the 1974 draft, Noll and the Steelers achieved a level of drafting success never seen before or since, when they selected four future Hall of Fame players with their first five picks: wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, middle linebacker Jack Lambert, and center Mike Webster. To this day, no other draft by any team has included more than two future Hall of Famers.
A very meticulous coach, Noll was well-known to coach players during practice on fundamentals--such as the three-point stance--that players were already expected to know. For instance, Andy Russell, already a Pro Bowl linebacker before Noll arrived and one of the few players Noll kept after purging the roster his first year, was told by Noll that he didn't have his feet positioned right.[4] As a result of Noll's attention to detail, Russell went on to become a key member for the first two Super Bowl teams and started the linebacker tradition that continues today in Pittsburgh .
While most of his contemporaries (as well as current NFL head coaches) enforced strict curfew rules on its players, Noll was very lax on off-the-field behavior. This was shown at Super Bowl IX. While Noll's counterpart — Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant — strictly kept his team in their hotel rooms except for practice before the game, Noll told his team upon arriving in New Orleans to go out on Bourbon Street "and get the partying out of your system now."[5] It can be argued that Noll allowing his players to go out while in New Orleans helped them be more relaxed when they played the Vikings and contributed to their 16-6 win.
The hallmark of the team during the 1970s was a stifling defense known as the Steel Curtain. Linemen L. C. Greenwood, Joe Greene, linebackers Jack Ham, and Jack Lambert had a collective level of talent unseen before in the NFL.
The teams that won Super Bowls IX and X used a run-oriented offense, primarily featuring Franco Harris and blocking back Rocky Bleier. Over the next few years, Terry Bradshaw matured into an outstanding passer, and the teams that won Super Bowls XIII and XIV fully utilized the receiving tandem of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
Noll was never a coach who sought a lot of media attention, and his 1970s teams were so talented that his contributions as head coach (and architect of the team) often were overlooked.
In 1989, Noll finally achieved some recognition as NFL Coach of the Year, when he guided the Steelers into the second round of the playoffs. The team was not especially talented and lost its first two regular season games by scores of 51–0 and 41–10. However, Noll did a remarkable job in keeping the team focused and steadily improving its play as they made the playoffs and played competitively in two playoff games.
Post-coaching life
Noll retired as Steelers head coach after the 1991 season with a record of 209–156–1, regular season and postseason combined. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
The last team he coached gave him a gift of a stationary bicycle, which he avidly used.
Noll maintained a residence in suburban Pittsburgh, however he spent some time at his Florida home. His mobility was limited by chronic back problems. Noll held the ceremonial title of Administration Adviser in the Pittsburgh Steelers' front office but had no real role in the team's operations after his retirement. He spent about half the year in Pittsburgh with his wife Marianne. They had a son, Chris, who is a teacher in a private high school in Connecticut.[6]
Noll died of natural causes in his suburban Pittsburgh condo on June 13, 2014. He had Alzheimer's disease.[7] Noll's funeral was held on June 17, 2014 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Pittsburgh.[8]
Legacy
Noll's legacy includes providing opportunities for African Americans. Under Noll, Joe Gilliam became the league's first African American starting quarterback just a few seasons after the AFL started Marlin Briscoe, and James Harris (Gilliam started ahead of Terry Bradshaw briefly during the 1974 season). In 1975, Franco Harris became the first African American to win the Super Bowl MVP award. During the 1980s, Tony Dungy (who briefly played under Noll in the late 1970s) got his start as an NFL assistant coach, initially as the Steelers' Defensive Backs Coach, and later he became the first African-American Coordinator in the NFL. Noll strongly promoted Dungy as a well-qualified head coaching candidate, but it did not happen for Dungy with the Steelers when Noll retired after the 1991 season. However Dungy did become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later became the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl (XLI) with the Indianapolis Colts.
On August 2, 2007, the field at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania was dedicated and renamed Chuck Noll Field in honor of the former coach. For more than 40 years the Steelers have held their summer camp at St. Vincent College, as it was Noll's idea to take the team away from the distractions in the city to prepare for the season each year.
Chuck Noll was honored on October 7, 2007 at Heinz Field during the pre-game ceremonies.
On September 30, 2011 Pittsburgh honored Noll by naming a new street after him. Chuck Noll Way connects North Shore Drive to West General Robinson St. The street runs along Stage AE, on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.[9]
Career record
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| PIT | 1969 | 1 | 13 | 0 | .071 | 4th in NFL Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1970 | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1971 | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2nd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1972 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost 17-21 vs. Miami Dolphins |
| PIT | 1973 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 2nd in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost 14-33 @ Oakland Raiders |
| PIT | 1974 | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl IX Champions |
| PIT | 1975 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl X Champions |
| PIT | 1976 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost 7-24 @ Oakland Raiders |
| PIT | 1977 | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 1st in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost 21-34 @ Denver Broncos |
| PIT | 1978 | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XIII Champions |
| PIT | 1979 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XIV Champions |
| PIT | 1980 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1981 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1982 | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost 28-31 VS. San Diego Chargers |
| PIT | 1983 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost 10-38 @ Los Angeles Raiders |
| PIT | 1984 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost 28-45 @ Miami Dolphins |
| PIT | 1985 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1986 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1987 | 8 | 7 | 0 | .533 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1988 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1989 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost 23-24 @ Denver Broncos |
| PIT | 1990 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| PIT | 1991 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| Total[10] | 193 | 148 | 1 | .566 | 16 | 8 | .667 | |||
See also
References
- ^ Since broken by the 1977 Atlanta Falcons (129)
- ^ Beaver County Times - Google News Archive Search
- ^ Pasquarelli, Len (January 6, 2007). "Cowher not universally adored in hometown". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Excerpt from "The Ones Who Hit the Hardest: The Steelers, the Cowboys, the 70s and the Fight for America's Soul" - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. September 1, 2010. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions. The 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers
- ^ The lessons of Chuck Noll
- ^ Dulac, Gerry. "Chuck Noll / Coach who led Steelers to 4 Super Bowl titles - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6284467-74/funeral-arrangements-avenue#axzz34n6I942k
- ^ "Chuck Noll Gets His Way « CBS Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh.cbslocal.com. September 30, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
- ^ Chuck Noll Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks - Pro-Football-Reference.com
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- ESPN Greatest Coaches: [1]
- 1932 births
- 2014 deaths
- Dayton Flyers football players
- American football offensive guards
- American football linebackers
- Cleveland Browns players
- Los Angeles Chargers coaches
- San Diego Chargers coaches
- Baltimore Colts coaches
- Pittsburgh Steelers head coaches
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Sportspeople from Cleveland, Ohio
- Players of American football from Ohio