Norm Van Brocklin
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Norman Mack "Norm" Van Brocklin (March 15, 1926 – May 2, 1983) was an American football player and coach. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
High school career
At Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California, Van Brocklin was a star quarterback.Military Service
He served in the United States Navy from 1943 through 1945.College career
At the University of Oregon, Van Brocklin was an All-American selection in 1948.National Football League Playing Career
Van Brocklin was selected in the fourth round of the 1949 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and led the NFL in passing three times and in punting twice. On nine occasions, he was selected to the Pro Bowl.On September 28, 1951, he threw for 554 yards, breaking Johnny Lujack's single-game record of 468, a mark that still stands more than a half-century later. During his 12-year career, he played on two championship teams in the National Football League: the 1951 Los Angeles Rams and the 1960 Philadelphia Eagles. Following the latter triumph, a 17-13 win over the Green Bay Packers, he retired.
National Football League Coaching Career
Van Brocklin cut his ties with the Eagles after his belief that the team had reneged on an agreement to name him head coach to replace the retiring Buck Shaw. On January 18, 1961, he accepted the head coaching position for the expansion Minnesota Vikings and over the next six years, Van Brocklin compiled a record of 29-51-4. The tenure was highlighted by his contentious relationship with quarterback Fran Tarkenton, a feud that culminated with Van Brocklin's resignation on February 11, 1967.During his first year off the field in over two decades, Van Brocklin served as a commentator on 1967 NFL broadcasts for CBS.
On October 1, 1968, he took over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, replacing Norb Hecker, who had started the season with three defeats, extending the team losing streak to 10 games. Over the next seven seasons, Van Brocklin had mixed results, putting together a 37-49-3 mark. He led the team to its first winning season in 1971 with a 7-6-1 record, then challenged for a playoff spot two years later with a 9-5 mark. However, after winning just two of his first eight games in 1974, he was fired.
Final Years
Following his dismissal, he returned to his pecan farm in Social Circle, Georgia. His only connections to football during this era were as a running backs coach for Georgia Tech in 1979, and as a college football broadcaster.
Death
On May 2, 1983, Norm died from a stroke.External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: [member biography]
- [ESPN article on Van Brocklin record game]
- [Football Cards of Norm Van Brocklin]
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