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| No. 11 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1930-09-19)September 19, 1930 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Died | February 29, 1992(1992-02-29) (aged 61) Saratoga, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 182 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Bremerton (WA) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Washington | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1952: 3rd round, 35th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||
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Donald Alan Heinrich (September 19, 1930 – February 29, 1992) was an American professionalfootball player, coach, and announcer. He played professionally as aquarterback inNational Football League (NFL) for theNew York Giants andDallas Cowboys. He also was a member of theOakland Raiders in theAmerican Football League (AFL). Heinrich playedcollege football at theUniversity of Washington.[1][2][3][4]
Born inChicago, Heinrich was raised inWestern Washington and graduated fromBremerton High School, west ofSeattle, in 1948. As a senior in the fall of 1947, he led the Wildcats to the mythical state title.[5] That winter, he contributed to the basketball team finishing in second-place at state.[6]
Heinrich played quarterback atWashington in Seattle, leading the nation in passing in1950 and1952,[7][8] and setting many of the school's passing records. His 60.9 completion percentage in 1950 set an NCAA record. Heinrich missed the1951 season due to a pre-season shoulder separation,[9][10] and was selected in thethird round of the1952 NFL draft, but stayed in college and played his fifth-year senior season with the Huskies in 1952.
He was inducted into theU.S. Army that November,[11] prior to theApple Cup inSpokane againstWashington State, but was granted a pass to play.[12][13] The Cougars had won the previous year inHusky Stadium while Heinrich was sidelined, but he led the Huskies to a 33–27 victory in 1952,[14][15][16] and finished 3–0 in his career against WSC.
Heinrich played two seasons (1949,1950) withhall of fame running backHugh McElhenny. They were expected to play together for three, but Heinrich's shoulder injury put junior Sam Mitchell and sophomore Dean Rockey at quarterback in 1951;[17] after three wins in their first four games, Washington went winless and fell to 3–6–1.[18]
Heinrich was selected by theNew York Giants in the third round (35th overall) of the1952 NFL draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over.
He served in the military for just under two years, and also got a chance to play football forFort Ord. He missed the1953 season and reported to the Giants in1954.[19] While in the army, he played for theFort Ord Warriors,[19] which included running backOllie Matson.
In his six seasons with the Giants, he saw action in three NFLchampionship games (1956,1958,1959), while being the starting quarterback of the 1956 title team. WithVince Lombardi as the Giants' offensive coordinator (1954–58), Heinrich split time at quarterback withCharlie Conerly, with him being used to probe defenses and Conerly coming into the games to capitalize on weaknesses.[20]
Heinrich was selected by theDallas Cowboys in the1960 expansion draft. He reunited with head coach wasTom Landry, who was the defensive coordinator with the Giants. Heinrich again shared time at quarterback, with veteranEddie LeBaron and rookieDon Meredith.[2]
On July 9, 1962, he returned as a player after theAmerican Football LeagueOakland Raiders bought his rights from the NFL's Cowboys.[21][22] The Raiders needed quarterback depth after learning that the previous year's No. 1 draft choice,Tom Flores, would miss the season due to a lung infection.
In 1961, Heinrich returned to theGiants as a backfield coach under newly promoted head coachAllie Sherman. From 1963 to 1964, he was the backfield coach for theLos Angeles Rams, under former Giants teammateHarland Svare. In 1965, he was hired as a scout for the expansionAtlanta Falcons.
From 1966 to 1968, he was the assistant for offense and called the plays for thePittsburgh Steelers under former Giants teammateBill Austin. From 1969 to 1970, he was the backfield coach for theNew Orleans Saints underTom Fears. From 1971 to 1975, he began as the defensive backfield coach before being moved to the passing-receiving coach for theSan Francisco 49ers underDick Nolan.[2]
In 1976, Heinrich began his broadcasting career, working first onWashington Huskies games and also as the first radio game analyst for theSeattle Seahawks Radio Network (working withPete Gross andWayne Cody) and then becoming an analyst for the 49ers' games. In 1983 and 1984, Heinrich was a color analyst forESPN andABC broadcasts of theUnited States Football League (USFL).
Heinrich worked with Preview Sports Publications, with whom he published the magazinesDon Heinrich's College Football andDon Heinrich's Pro Preview, until his death. In 1991, he was the analyst for Pac-10 games onPrime Ticket, a cable channel based in Los Angeles.
In 1974, he was inducted into theState of Washington Sports Hall of Fame. In 1981, he was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Fame. In 1990, he was named the starting quarterback on Washington's Centennial Team.
Heinrich was diagnosed withpancreatic cancer in June 1991,[23] and died at age 61 at his home inSaratoga, California.[2]
