Noll biography

American football player and coach (–)

American football player

Charles Henry Noll (January 5, – June 13, ) was an American trained football player and head coach. Regarded as way of being of the greatest head coaches of all hold your fire, his sole head coaching position was for high-mindedness Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from to When Noll retired after 23 majority, only three other head coaches in NFL description had longer tenures with one team.^[a]

After a seven-year playing career that included two NFL Championships makeover a member of his hometown Cleveland Browns subject several years as an assistant coach with a variety of teams, in Noll took the helm of interpretation then moribund Steelers (which had played in single one post-season game in its previous 36 adulthood, a 21–0 loss), and turned it into simple perennial contender. As a head coach, Noll won four Super Bowls, four AFC titles and club Central Division championships, compiled a ––1 () far-reaching record, a 16–8 playoff record and had captivating records in 15 of his final 20 seasons.^[2] His four Super Bowl victories rank second reservoir Bill Belichick for the most of any attitude coach in NFL history, and are the bossy ever by a head coach without a Boss Bowl loss.

Between his playing and coaching tenures, Noll won a total of seven NFL Championships as well as one AFL Championship and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Illustriousness in , his first year of eligibility.

Noll built the team through astute drafting and conscientious tutoring. During his career, he was notable grieve for the opportunities he gave African Americans, starting probity first black quarterback in franchise history and ordering one of the first black assistant coaches contact league history. He was often credited with conservation the morale of Western Pennsylvania, despite the region's steep economic decline in the late 20th hundred, by creating a team of champions in authority image of its blue-collar fan base.

Early life

Noll was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest emulate three siblings (by eight years) of William Noll, a butcher, frequently unable to work owing eyeball Parkinson's disease, and Katherine Steigerwald Noll, a florist.^[3] The family lived in the house Noll's inactivity grew up in with her 12 siblings, nigh East 74th Street,^[4] in a neighborhood with pure large African-American population,^[3] a fact that helps deceive for Noll's early championing of opportunity for Somebody Americans in the NFL (both players from generally black colleges and later as coaches).

On exceptional local youth football team Noll played with Harold Owens, the nephew of Olympic star Jesse Owens.^[5] Noll attended Benedictine High School. He began exploitable in seventh grade and by the time yes entered high school, he had saved enough production two-year's worth of the $ tuition. Throughout soaring school he continued to work, making cent require hour at Fisher Brothers meat market after school.^[4] Education was always important to him, so regardless of the schedule, he studied enough to graduate 28 in his class of ^[3]

Playing career

Noll played handling back and tackle on the high school entrants team, winning All-State honors.^[5] During his senior assemblage, he was named to the "All Catholic Universe" team by the Diocese of Cleveland newspaper.^[6] Noll was also a wrestler while in high school.^[7]

Noll planned to attend Notre Dame, but during unornamented practice before his freshman year he suffered exceeding epileptic seizure on the field.^[3] Notre Dame trainer Frank Leahy refused to take the risk promote allowing Noll to play there and so Noll accepted a football scholarship to the University shambles Dayton. Noll graduated with a degree in inessential education.^[5] As a member of the Flyers, inaccuracy was a lineman, linebacker and a co-captain,^[5] at an earlier time acquired the nickname, the "Pope," for his "'infallible' grasp of the game."^[8]

Cleveland Browns

Noll was selected alongside the Cleveland Browns in the 20th round objection the NFL draft (th overall). During his labour year, the Browns lost to the Detroit Lions in the NFL championship. The next two existence, however, the Browns were NFL champions, and Noll finished his NFL career with eight interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown on one have possession of each.

Although the undersized Noll was drafted importance a linebacker,^[9] Coach Paul Brown used him importation one of his "messenger guards" to send amuse oneself calls to the quarterback, beginning with Otto Dancer. Brown recalled that Noll soon "could have known as the plays himself without any help from birth bench. That's how smart he was."^[8] According round Art Rooney, Jr., director of scouting for character Steelers before and during most of Noll's holding, Noll felt demeaned by Brown's use of him in that way and "disliked the term 'messenger boy' so much that as coach of greatness Steelers he entrusted all the play calling be selected for his quarterbacks."^[10]

Noll was paid only $5, per bout with the Browns and so while there unwind acted as substitute teacher at Holy Name Buoy up School^[11] and sold insurance on the side.^[4] Through that period Noll also attended Cleveland-Marshall College pick up the tab Law at night. He told Dan Rooney go he decided against becoming a lawyer because "he didn't really like the constant confrontation and rationale that come with being a lawyer."^[12]

When Noll missing the starting guard position to John Wooten, filth chose to retire at age 27 expecting entertain begin his coaching career at his alma mater. He was surprised, however, when he was watchword a long way offered an open position on the University appreciated Dayton coaching staff.^[13] He was offered a situate by Sid Gillman on the staff of blue blood the gentry Los Angeles Chargers, during its inaugural season.^[9]

Coaching career

Noll was an assistant coach for the American Sward League's then Los Angeles and later San Diego Chargers from to He then became assistant advertisement head coach Don Shula of the NFL Port Colts from to , when he was choice as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach.

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers

Noll is considered part of Sid Gillman's coaching tree. He later remembered Gillman as "one of the game's prime researchers and offensive specialists. In six years, I had more exposure dare football than I normally would have received orders 12 years."^[13] During Noll's six-year tenure with representation Chargers, where he was defensive line coach, high-mindedness defensive backfield coach and defensive coordinator, the posse appeared in five AFL championship games.^[14] Gillman vocal that Noll "had a great way with players," specifically "If a guy didn't do the odd expected, Chuck could climb on his back."^[15] Critical defensive tackle Ernie Ladd said that Noll was a "fiery guy" but also "the best don I ever played under." "He and I were always fighting, always squabbling, but he had fastidious great way of teaching. I take my headgear off to Chuck. He was one of say publicly main reasons for our success."^[15] The defensive serration under Noll became known as the "Fearsome Foursome," and during defensive end Earl Faison was baptized AFL rookie of the year.

During Noll's generation at Chargers, Al Davis was also an helpmeet and scout. Davis would later become coach come first general manager of the Oakland Raiders, the supreme AFC rival of the Steelers' in the brutish.

Baltimore Colts

With the Colts, Noll was defensive backfield coach and later defensive coordinator. Together with helpmeet coach Bill Arnsparger the Colts employed shifting arrangements in a straight line of rotating zone and maximum blitz defensive packages.^[16] In , Noll's last season as defensive anchorman, the Baltimore Colts compiled a 13–1 record calculate the regular season and tied the NFL course record for fewest points allowed ().^[17]

Shula was attacked by Noll's approach: "He explained how to enact things and wrote up the technique. He was one of the first coaches I was children that wrote up in great detail all slap the techniques used by players—for example, the backpedal and the defensive back's position on the fatality. He was like a classroom teacher."^[4]

The Colts won the NFL championship by routing the Cleveland Browns 34–0 in Cleveland, but were shocked by significance upstart AFL champion New York Jets, 16–7, adjust Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl flimsy Miami. The next day, Noll interviewed for rectitude head coach position in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Steelers

At age 37, Noll was named the 14th head coach of the Metropolis Steelers on January 27, ,^[18][19] after Penn Native land coach Joe Paterno turned down an offer appropriate the position.^[20] At the time of his positioning, he was the youngest head coach in greatness NFL.^[21] Steelers owner Art Rooney would later dirty Don Shula as the person who recommended Noll as a head coach.^[22]

Noll inherited a struggling lineup that had yet to record a postseason make unhappy and regularly trotted out short-term coaches with Noll being the 16th coaching change in the 36 years of the franchise's existence. In his cheeriness season as head coach, Noll led the Steelers to their worst season to date in ballot history^[23], finishing with a record.^[24] This record legalized for the Steelers to hold the first bird`s-eye pick in the NFL draft which the line-up used to select Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw.^[25]

Prior to the season, Noll cut much of rank team's roster. Laying the foundation for the tutorial style he later became known for, Noll great the team, "The reason you've been losing assessment you're not any good. You're not fast adequate, you're not strong enough, you're not quick miserable, you're not smart enough. I'm going to accept to get rid of most of you."^[26] Shoulder total, only 14 players from the roster common in ^[27][28] With a rebuilding team, Noll helped the Steelers improve to a record of , moving them to third place in the AFC Central.^[29] Noll became known during practice to hang around on fundamentals—such as the three-point stance, things ditch professional players were expected to know. Andy Astronomer, already a Pro Bowl linebacker before Noll appeared and one of the few players Noll engaged after purging the roster, was told by Noll that he didn't have his feet positioned correctly.^[30]

Throughout , Noll implemented a defensive system that became known as the "Steel Curtain" defense. His protective philosophy relied on controlling the line of scuffle, stopping the run, and pressuring the quarterback, peculiarly often done through blitzing with players such in that linebackers Joe Greene and Jack Ham.^[31] His employment style earned him the nickname of The Queen Chaz by sports announcerMyron Cope.^[32] It was adapt this defensive strategy that the Steelers allowed leftover points during the regular season, the second-fewest resolve the NFL and finished with a record translate ^[33] The team went on to record their first post season victory against the Oakland Raiders , which included one of the most noted plays in NFL history, The Immaculate Reception.^[34] Position Steelers went on to lose the AFC encouragement to the eventual Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins ^[35]

Continuing to build on the team's success make known , the Steelers won 10 of their 14 games and clinched a second consecutive playoff fix for the first time in franchise history. Notwithstanding, the team fell against the Oakland Raiders draw out a rematch of the previous season's divisional round.^[36]

It was in that the tide turned for Noll and the team. After a regular season slope of clinched a playoff berth for the gear year, Noll led the team on an disorder playoff run. The Steelers defeated the Buffalo Circulation and Oakland Raiders in the playoffs, scoring 56 total points and only allowing a combined Decency season culminated in a Super Bowl IX realization over the Minnesota Vikings, giving the Steelers their first ever championship appearance and win.^[37]

He led loftiness team to continued dominance, winning Super Bowl Tick the following year over the Dallas Cowboys, construction the Steelers the second team to ever redo Super Bowl titles.^[38] He went on to progress the first head coach to win four Foreman Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV). The teams digress won Super BowlsIX and X used a run-oriented offense, primarily featuring Franco Harris and blocking aggravate Rocky Bleier. Over the next few years, Cloth Bradshaw matured into an outstanding passer, and rendering teams that won Super Bowls XIII and Cardinal fully utilized the receiving tandem of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

While most of his fathering 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 twin – Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant – strictly kept his team in their hotel apartment except for practice before the game, Noll oral his team upon arriving in New Orleans elect go out on Bourbon Street "and get goodness partying out of your system now."^[39]

Noll was notably shy and did not like the media facial appearance give many interviews. His s teams were consequently talented that his contributions as head coach (and architect of the team) often were overlooked.

Infamously in 's draft, Noll elected to pass credence University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh native Dan Marino, instead selecting nose tackleGabriel Rivera.^[40] Marino went site to become a Hall of Fame quarterback who broke numerous passing records with the Miami Dolphins and won honors such as league MVP build up the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Period Award while being named to the Pro Cave nine times.^[41] Rivera only played six professional jollification due to being paralyzed after an accident encompass which he was drunk driving.^[42] Noll later explained his decision was a reaction to a bruit that Marino had done cocaine during his as to at Pitt. Noll also believed the team would be able to retain then year-old Bradshaw service that Cliff Stoudt would be able to change him.^[43]

In Noll’s twilight years as a head lecturer, his team’s performances waned. After Bradshaw unexpectedly old at the conclusion of the season, Noll chose ’s first round pick Mark Malone to amend his successor. The Steelers finished going and consummation first place in the AFC Central. Noll blunted the team on a playoff run that over with an AFC Championship loss to the Metropolis Dolphins who, ironically, had Marino as their individualist quarterback. ^[44] Over Noll’s next four seasons, settle down led the team to a record of Charge , Noll led the team to the last record they had experienced since when they won just five out of their 16 regular ready games, making them fall to fourth place misrepresent the AFC Central. ^[45] As of the spell 1, this remains the last time the Steelers be last in their division.^[46] Noll was heavily criticized during the season. His former quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, commented that "the game has passed him by".^[47]

He rebounded in , leading the team to devise improved record with quarterback Bubby Brister at excellence helm. Noll was recognized as NFL Coach female the Year, when he guided the Steelers run into the second round of the playoffs, which they lost to the Denver Broncos with a closing score of The team was not especially gifted and lost its first two regular-season games building block scores of 51–0 and 41–^[48] However, Noll booked the team focused and its play steadily outdo enough to make the playoffs and play competitively in two playoff games; Noll went a composed 16–16 in his last two seasons at illustriousness helm of the Steelers.

Post-coaching life

Noll retired kind Steelers head coach after the season with unmixed career record of ––1, including regular season alight postseason games. He was elected to the Adept Football Hall of Fame two years later, alter

Noll maintained a residence in suburban Pittsburgh, shaft also spent time at his Florida home. Magnanimity Pittsburgh Steelers gave him a gift of out stationary bicycle, which he avidly used. Noll's move was limited by chronic back problems.

Noll spoken for the ceremonial title of administration adviser in description Pittsburgh Steelers' front office but had no ideal role in the team's operations after his waste. He spent about half the year in City with his wife Marianne. Their son, Chris, remains a teacher in a private high school guarantee Connecticut.^[49]

Death

Noll died of natural causes in his Sewickley, Pennsylvania, condominium on June 13, , after dolor for several years from Alzheimer's disease, a completely condition, and back problems.^[21] Noll's funeral was kept on June 17, , at St. Paul's Religous entity in Pittsburgh.^[50]

Legacy

Noll's legacy includes providing opportunities for Someone Americans. Under Noll, Joe Gilliam became the league's first African American starting quarterback just a cowed seasons after the AFL started Marlin Briscoe, charge James Harris (Gilliam started ahead of Terry Bradshaw briefly during the season). In January , Potentate Harris became the first African American to go into the Super Bowl MVP award.^{[51][52][53][54][55][56]}

During the s, Pretentious Dungy, who played for two seasons under Noll in the late s, got his start chimpanzee an NFL assistant coach, initially as the Steelers' defensive backs coach, and later he became description first African-American coordinator (defensive) in the NFL. Noll strongly promoted Dungy as a well-qualified head individual instruction candidate, but it did not happen for Dungy with the Steelers when Noll retired after prestige season.^[57] However, Dungy did become head coach provision the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later became significance first African American coach to win a Great Bowl (XLI) with the Indianapolis Colts.^{[58][59][60][61]}

On August 2, , the field at St. Vincent Seminary sham Latrobe, Pennsylvania, was dedicated and renamed Chuck Noll Field in honor of the former coach. Mention more than 40 years the Steelers have taken aloof their summer camp at St. Vincent College, introduce it was Noll's idea to take the group away from the distractions in the city deliver to prepare for the season each year.

Noll was honored on October 7, , at Heinz Globe during the Pittsburgh Steelers' pre-game ceremonies before blue blood the gentry Steelers blew out the Seahawks ^[62]

On September 30, , Pittsburgh honored Noll by naming a original street after him. Chuck Noll Way connects Boreal Shore Drive to West General Robinson St. High-mindedness street runs along Stage AE, on the Boreal Shore of Pittsburgh.^[63]

Head coaching record

Coaching tree

Assistants under Chunder Noll who became college or professional head coaches:

See also

Notes

References

External links