Mike McCormack (American football)
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Michael Joseph McCormack Jr. (June 21, 1930 – November 15, 2013) was an American professional
Playing career
McCormack played
McCormack came home in 1954 to find that his team had ceased to exist, so he became a free agent and was immediately signed by the
The following season, he was shifted to
Paul Brown, legendary Cleveland Browns founder, owner, and coach, stated in his 1979 memoir, PB: The Paul Brown Story, "I consider (Mike) McCormack the finest offensive tackle who ever played pro football."
Coaching career
McCormack retired from playing in 1962 and began coaching with the first of four consecutive stints as an assistant in the annual
McCormack was hired to replace Ed Khayat as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles on January 17, 1973. He inherited a team that ended 1972 in the NFC East cellar at 2–11–1 and hadn't had a winning campaign since 1966.[4] Three seasons and a 16–25–1 record later, he was dismissed on December 22, 1975, following a 4–10 last-place finish.[5]
After four years as offensive line coach with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1976 through 1979,[6] he was selected over Frank Kush and George Welsh to succeed Ted Marchibroda as head coach of the Baltimore Colts on January 17, 1980. The ballclub finished in last place at 5–11 in each of the two seasons prior to McCormack's arrival.[7] When the Colts fell from 7–9 in 1980 to 2–14 the following year, he was fired on December 21, 1981, and replaced by Kush the next day.[8] As McCormack put it, "I wanted to be like my mentor, Paul Brown. He was a great teacher and I tried to do the same but unfortunately I always let my emotions carry me away."
Administrative career
In 1982, McCormack joined the Seattle Seahawks, eventually becoming president and general manager. That year, the Seahawks lost their first two games, then a 57-day players strike ensued. During the hiatus, seventh-year head coach Jack Patera was fired in mid-October and McCormack took over as interim head coach.[9][10] He led them to a 4–3 record, the only time he compiled a winning record as an NFL head coach, but Seattle did not qualify for the 16-team postseason. McCormack then returned to his management position when the Seahawks hired Chuck Knox as their new head coach in 1983 and declined all further offers to become a head coach.
In late January 1989, he was abruptly fired by the new Seahawks owner, Ken Behring, who explained the decision was necessary in order to make changes in the financial operations of the team.[11][12] Later that year, McCormack became a consultant for Jerry Richardson and his ownership group that were seeking to land an NFL expansion team in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1993, he was hired by the newly-formed Carolina Panthers as their team president and general manager, and their inaugural season was in 1995. He retired from the Panthers organization in 1997, which erected a monument in their stadium honoring him.
Death
At the age of 83 in 2013, McCormack died of heart failure in Palm Desert, California.[13]
See also
References
- ISBN 0689109857.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (November 15, 2013). "Mike McCormack, Hall of Fame Browns Lineman, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ISBN 0-671-45394-7, Simon & Schuster, 1984, p. 54.
- ^ "McCormack, Redskin Aide, Named Eagles' Head Coach," The Associated Press, Wednesday, January 17, 1973. Retrieved May 7, 2018
- ^ "McCormack Dismissed By Eagles," United Press International, Monday, December 22, 1975. Retrieved May 7, 2018
- ^ Didinger, Ray. "Didinger Reflects On The Late McCormack," Philadelphia Eagles, Friday, November 15, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2018
- ^ Leavy, Jane. "Colts Pick McCormack," The Washington Post, Thursday, January 17, 1980. Retrieved May 8, 2018
- ^ Hershey, Steve. "Colts Fire McCormack, Hire Kush," The Washington Post, Tuesday, December 22, 1981. Retrieved May 8, 2018
- ^ Cour, Jim (October 14, 1982). "Patera fired". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 29.
- ^ "Do Seahawks want James?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 14, 1982. p. 1C.
- ^ "Seattle fires McCormack". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). news services. January 31, 1989. p. 11.
- ^ "New Seattle owner fires McCormack", Eugene Register-Guard, (Oregon), Associated Press, p. 2D, January 31, 1989
- ^ "Hall of Fame lineman Mike McCormack dies at 83 - Yahoo Sports". sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-20.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- Mike McCormack at IMDb