Edward D. Hughes (October 23, 1927 – June 23, 2000) was an American professionalfootball player and coach whose career spanned more than three decades. His most prominent coaching position came in 1971 when he served ashead coach of theNational Football League (NFL)'sHouston Oilers.

Hughes, a native ofBuffalo, New York, playedcollege football on both sides of the ball at theUniversity of Tulsa, then wasdrafted in the tenth round of the1954 NFL draft by theLos Angeles Rams. Playing primarily atdefensive back, Hughes collected twointerceptions during hisrookie year, then helped the team reach theNFL Championship game in 1955.

On August 12, 1956, Hughes was traded along withrunning back Tommy McCormick to theNew York Giants for a fourth round draft pick. Hughes would play three seasons with his new team, helping them play twice in the NFL title game, including a convincing win over theChicago Bears during his first season.

In 1959, Hughes entered the coaching ranks, returning to his alma mater inTulsa for one season. The following year, he joinedHank Stram's staff with the fledglingDallas Texans of the newAmerican Football League. His three years in the Lone Star state asdefensive backs coach were capped with the team'sfirst championship, coming in a doubleovertime thriller over theHouston Oilers.

After the1962 season, Hughes was hired as an assistant with another AFL team, theDenver Broncos, but spent only one season there before accepting a position with theWashington Redskins. For four seasons, Hughes worked under two coaches, then left to becomeoffensive coordinator for theSan Francisco 49ers. The move reunited Hughes withDick Nolan, who not only was his former teammate with the Giants, but also his brother-in-law.

After the 49ers struggled during the1968 and1969 seasons, the team put it all together during Nolan and Hughes' third year, winning theNFC West Division while also leading the league intotal offense. The renewed success of the team was beneficial for Hughes, who accepted a five-year contract as head coach of the Oilers on January 21, 1971.^{[citation needed]}

The lengthy contract would prove to be a mirage as Hughes lasted just one season in the position. An indication of the season came in the opener when Houston was shut out 31–0 by theCleveland Browns, and continued when Hughes fired two assistant coaches during the campaign. The disarray concluded on December 22 when Hughes resigned after a strange power struggle in which Hughes asked that the team trainer be fired, while team ownerBud Adams insisted that the equipment manager (who Hughes had fired) be reinstated.^{[citation needed]}

Almost two years later, one more example of the havoc surrounding the team surfaced when OilerscenterJerry Sturm indicated that he had been offered abribe to affect the outcome of a game.^[1] Following Hughes' departure, the Oilers became the first (and to date, only) team to post consecutive one-win seasons since theAFL-NFL merger, going 1–13 in 1972 and 1973.

Hughes briefly worked in a trailer factory until a contract settlement was reached, then accepted thequarterbacks coach position with theSt. Louis Cardinals on August 30, 1972. When Cardinals' head coachBob Hollway was fired after that season, Hughes found new employment on March 8, 1973, asoffensive backfield coach of theDallas Cowboys. Hughes' new boss,Tom Landry, had earlier played a role in his future when his 1956 retirement resulted in the Giants' trade for Hughes.

During his four seasons with the Cowboys, the team played in two NFC Championship games and competed inSuper Bowl X against thePittsburgh Steelers. Hughes left in 1977 to joinTommy Hudspeth's staff with theDetroit Lions, but the entire group was dismissed on January 9, 1978.^[2]

He re-joined Dick Nolan who had been named head coach of theNew Orleans Saints in 1978. The reunion of Nolan and Hughes would last only three years, when an improved1979 Saints team turned into the infamous "Aints" of1980. That squad was symbolized by their loss to the 49ers on December 7 in which they blew a 28-point lead.

Hughes would spend the1981 NFL season with thePhiladelphia Eagles, then move on to become offensive coordinator of theChicago Bears under new head coachMike Ditka. While the Bears would become known for their defensive prowess during this era, the offense still had the unparalleled exploits of running backWalter Payton. The combination was enough to lead the Bears to a title in 1985, capped with a 46–10 victory over the New England Patriots inSuper Bowl XX.^[3]

The Bears would go on to the postseason in each of the next three seasons, but Hughes resigned during the 1989 training camp after being demoted, then become quarterback coach of the Eagles midway through the season. In 1990, Hughes was hired asdefensive coordinator atLake Forest College. Hughes had his five children and ten grandchildren.

• 1927 births
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