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| Positions | Fullback Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1926-09-15)September 15, 1926 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | March 7, 1993(1993-03-07) (aged 66) Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Edmond Memorial (Edmond, Oklahoma) | ||||||||||||
| College | Oklahoma A&M | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1948: 1st round, 11th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||
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Coaching | |||||||||||||
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Operations | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL/AAFC statistics | |||||||||||||
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James J. Spavital (September 15, 1926 – March 7, 1993) was an Americangridiron football player, coach and executive in six different professional football leagues. He served as the head coach of theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League (CFL) from 1970 to 1973 and as head coach of theChicago Fire of theWorld Football League (WFL) in 1974. Spavital was the general manager of the CFL'sSaskatchewan Roughriders from 1979 to 1982 and theMichigan Panthers of theUnited States Football League (USFL) in 1983.
Spavital played for theAll-America Football Conference'sLos Angeles Dons in 1949 and theNational Football League'sBaltimore Colts during the1950 season. As astarter in 1950 he had 246 rushing yards and 238 receiving. His 96-yard rush against theGreen Bay Packers on November 5, 1950, is the fourth longest run fromscrimmage in NFL history. As an Airborne reservist, Spavital was called up in 1951 to serve in the Korean War. His reporting date prevented him from playing a full NFL season so he moved north of the border to play for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League (CFL) enabling him to play a complete season prior to reporting for duty. Wear and tear on his feet effectively ended his playing career. He was also drafted by theNew York Giants in the first round of the1951 NFL draft after theBaltimore Colts folded.[1]
In 1955, Spavital joined theOklahoma State coaching staff under coachCliff Speegle. In 1968 he joined theSaskatchewan Roughriders as an assistant. In 1970 he was hired by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers ashead coach. In four seasons as Bombers head coach, he had a 23–39–2 record and two playoff appearances.
In 1974, Spavital was hired as head coach of theChicago Fire of theWorld Football League. The team finished 7–13 and folded after the season. In 1975 he joined the New York Jets, coaching the offensive backfield. The following season, he again coached the offensive backfield coach forSan Francisco 49ers coachMonte Clark.
In 1977 Spavital returned to the CFL as an assistant coach with theCalgary Stampeders, rejoining a fellow assistant from Saskatchewan,Jack Gotta. In 1981 he was hired as general manager of theSaskatchewan Roughriders.
Spavital left the Roughriders after the season to join theMichigan Panthers of theUnited States Football League (USFL). In the league's first year, the Panthers won the USFL championship, defeating thePhiladelphia Stars title game. On September 9, 1983, he resigned his post as Panthers GM. In 1989 Spavital was hired byBill Byrne and Hubie Byrne to help put together a new professional football league to begin play in the spring or summer of 1990. Spavital was the director of football operations for theProfessional Spring Football League (PSFL) for two years before plans for the league were abandoned.
Spavital's son, Steve, was the head football coach atBroken Arrow Senior High inBroken Arrow, Oklahoma. Spavital is also the grandfather of current Texas State head coachJake Spavital and Texas Statedefensive coordinator Zac Spavital.