Fritz Shurmur
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Albion | July 15, 1932
Position(s) | Phoenix Cardinals (DC) |
1994–1998 | Green Bay Packers (DC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 15–29 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Awards | |
Superbowl Champion XXXI (DC)
Most Valuable Player (1953) | |
Leonard Frank "Fritz" Shurmur (July 15, 1932 – August 30, 1999) was an
Early life
Nicknamed "Fritz" as a baby after his grandfather's
Shurmur's father was a factory worker for 49 years in the suburbs of Detroit.[3] Shurmur's parents twice refinanced the family home so Fritz and his brother could have opportunities to attend Albion College.[3]
Shurmur started playing football at
Coaching career
College
Shurmur became a graduate assistant at age 22 in 1954, under Albion head coach Morley Fraser. After receiving his master's degree in education administration in 1956, he stayed at Albion as a defensive coordinator.[5] In 1962, Shurmur moved to the University of Wyoming as a defensive coach under first-year head coach Lloyd Eaton, who was promoted following the departure of Bob Devaney for Nebraska. The Cowboys won three consecutive WAC titles (1966–1968), which included a Sugar Bowl appearance after the 1967 season. Following a 1–9 season in 1970, Eaton resigned and Shurmur was promoted to head coach;[6][7] he had a 15–29 (.341) record over four seasons (1971–1974).[8]
NFL career
From 1975 to 1999, Shurmur was a defensive coach in the
Throughout his career, Shurmur was widely known as an innovative mind on defense. Shurmur's coaching style was revered by peers in his profession for defensive genius. For example, in 1992 with the Cardinals, Shurmur had to devise a plan when two linebackers were injured. He developed a "Big Nickel" defense, that used five defensive backs close enough to the line of scrimmage to rush the passer or drop back into coverage.[2]
Shurmur became defensive coordinator for Green Bay in 1994 under head coach Mike Holmgren; in his third season with the team in 1996, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots in January 1997. When Holmgren accepted the dual roles of head coach and general manager with Seattle in 1999, Shurmur went with him as defensive coordinator. That May, he was diagnosed with esophageal and liver cancer; he died at his Wisconsin home in late August, before ever coaching a game with the Seahawks.[1]
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wyoming Cowboys (Western Athletic Conference) (1971–1974) | |||||||||
1971 | Wyoming | 5–6 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
1972 | Wyoming | 4–7 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
1973 | Wyoming | 4–7 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
1974 | Wyoming | 2–9 | 1–6 | 8th | |||||
Wyoming: | 15–29 | 10–18 | |||||||
Total: | 15–29 |
References
- ^ a b "Shurmur loses battle with cancer". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 31, 1999. p. C1.
- ^ a b c Litsky, Frank (August 21, 1999). "Fritz Shurmur, 67, a Coach Of Innovative NFL Defenses". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ a b "Green Bay's defensive genius". South Coast Daily. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ "Fritz Shurmur, Former Packers Defensive Coordinator, Dies at 67". Green Bay Packers. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ "Fritz Shurmur Education Institute". Albion College. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- ^ "No regrets says Eaton, 13 years after 'crash'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. May 14, 1982. p. 17.
- ^ "Sports briefs: Wyoming". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 7, 1970. p. 20.
- ^ "Wyoming Coaching Record". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 14, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ "Lions Oust Hudspeth, All Of His Aides," United Press International (UPI), Monday, January 9, 1978. Retrieved November 24, 2020