Walt Michaels
No. 35, 34 | |||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | October 16, 1929||
Died: | July 10, 2019 Plains, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 89)||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Weight: | 231 lb (105 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
College: | Washington and Lee | ||
NFL draft: | 1951 / Round: 7 / Pick: 86 | ||
Career history | |||
As a player: | |||
As a coach: | |||
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Career highlights and awards | |||
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Career NFL statistics | |||
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Head coaching record | |||
Regular season: | 39–47–1 (.454) | ||
Postseason: | 2–2 (.500) | ||
Career: | 41–49–1 (.456) | ||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||
Coaching stats at PFR |
Walter Edward Michaels (originally Majka) (October 16, 1929 – July 10, 2019
Early life and playing career
Collegiate and early NFL career
Michaels was born to a Polish family, son of a coal miner from
Return to Cleveland Browns (1952–61)
On April 29, 1952, Michaels was traded back to the Browns for three offensive linemen, and played a key role in the team's defense over the next decade at
Coaching career
Oakland Raiders assistant (1962)
On April 3, 1962, Michaels entered the coaching ranks when he was hired by the American Football League's Oakland Raiders as the team's defensive backs coach. He would spend only one season there, with the success he enjoyed with the Browns nowhere to be found. The Raiders lost their first 13 games before winning the season finale, playing in Frank Youell Field, a temporary stadium.
New York Jets assistant (1963–73)
After the 1962 season, Michaels joined the staff of the American Football League's New York Jets as defensive line coach. He played as an emergency fill-in at linebacker in the opening game of the 1963 season versus Boston. In 1967, with the departure of J.D. Donaldson, Michaels's responsibility shifted to linebackers and the secondary. He also became the "unofficial" defensive coordinator, creating the team's defensive game plans. The Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, with Michaels seemingly the heir apparent to replace Weeb Ewbank, following the departure of fellow assistant Clive Rush.
Philadelphia Eagles assistant (1973–75)
However, Michaels' career fortunes changed dramatically on February 1, 1973, when Ewbank hired his
Three mediocre seasons in Philadelphia followed, with McCormack and his staff dismissed at the end of the 1975 NFL season. After Winner was also dismissed as Jets head coach, Michaels returned to New York, again resuming his role as the main coach on defense under new head coach Lou Holtz.
New York Jets assistant (1976–77)
Holtz's one season at the professional level turned out to be a disaster, leading him to resign in the days prior to the last game of the season. On January 4, 1977, Michaels was officially selected as head coach of the Jets, beginning six seasons of wildly contrasting results.
New York Jets head coach (1977–83)
Michaels' first season saw the team win only three of 14 games, but over the next two years, the Jets managed to split their 16 contests in each year. The five-game improvement in 1978 was good enough to win Michaels the AFC Coach of the Year award.
The 1979 season was another 8–8 campaign that was marred by a quarterback controversy. Starter Richard Todd was demoted and new starter Matt Robinson was named for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. But days before the game, Robinson injured his throwing-hand thumb during horseplay with Joe Klecko and tried to hide the injury, but was forced to reveal it the night before the game. The thumb was treated and the Jets took a 22–19 lead in the final quarter. Robinson had the tape on his injured thumb removed thinking the game was over, but Brian Sipe led a game-tying Browns drive, and in overtime Robinson, unable to grip the ball, threw a sloppy pass for Wesley Walker that was intercepted and turned into a Browns game-winning field goal. Michaels never used Robinson again even after Richard Todd got injured.[5] Another incident during 1979 illustrated the fragile dynamic of Michaels' tenure with the Jets. On November 26 when the Jets were crushed 30–7 by the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome; one Seahawks score was set up as cornerback Cornell Webster blocked a Chuck Ramsey punt which followed a Jets turnover on a mishandled snap. Following the game Michaels called out Ramsey in front of teammates by snarling, "I can fart farther than you can kick!" [6]
A rough 4–12 season in 1980 was followed by an 0–3 start in 1981. Following a 31–30 loss to the
On February 10, 1983, just 17 days after the loss to the Dolphins, Michaels unexpectedly resigned, citing a need for a break from football. He had been under severe emotional strain during the last weeks of the 1982 regular season, taking time each week to visit his terminally ill mother in Pennsylvania. Reportedly, owner Leon Hess pressured Michaels into resigning due to his tiring of Michaels and his temper problem, which included an outburst on the flight out of Miami with team president Jim Kensil and a shoving match at La Guardia Airport with a bus driver; a meeting with Kensil after the Pro Bowl led to the push to resign.[8][9][10]
New Jersey Generals, USFL (1984-85)
Michaels would then coach the
ILAF (International League of American Football)
On December 21, 1989, Michaels was hired as coach of the Helsinki franchise in the new International League of American Football, a developmental league and the forerunner of the now defunct
Head coaching record
Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
NYJ | 1977 | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 5th in AFC East | - | - | - | |
NYJ | 1978 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | |
NYJ | 1979 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC East | - | - | - | |
NYJ | 1980 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 5th in AFC East | - | - | - | |
NYJ | 1981 | 10 | 5 | 1 | .656 | 2nd in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to the Buffalo Bills in AFC Wild-Card Game |
NYJ | 1982 * | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 6th in AFC Division | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to the Miami Dolphins in AFC Championship Game |
NYJ Total | 39 | 47 | 1 | .454 | 2 | 2 | .500 | |||
NJG | 1984 | 14 | 4 | 0 | .778 | 2nd in Atlantic Division | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to the Philadelphia Stars in Eastern Conference Semifinals
|
NJG | 1985 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 2nd in Eastern Conference | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to the Baltimore Stars in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
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NJG Total | 25 | 11 | 0 | .694 | 0 | 2 | .000 | |||
Total | 64 | 58 | 1 | .524 | 2 | 4 | .000 |
- Note: The 1982 season was reduced to 9 games due to an 8-week player strike.
See also
References
- NFL.com.
- ^ Litsky, Frank (July 11, 2019). "Walt Michaels, Outspoken Coach of the Jets, is Dead at 89". The New York Times.
- ^ "Walt Michaels". National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. June 12, 1997.
- ^ "NPASHF | Walt Michaels".
- ISBN 0-684-84115-0
- ^ Eskenazi, Gang Green, pp. 155–6.
- ^ Eskenazi, Gang Green, pp. 173-76.
- ^ "The long, frightening, horrific history of Jets coaches". December 7, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2024.