 Johnsos (left) kneeling alongside co-head coachHunk Anderson (right), circa 1942. | |||||||||||
| No. 24 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | End | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1905-12-09)December 9, 1905 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died | December 10, 1984(1984-12-10) (aged 79) Evanston, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Carl Schurz (Chicago) | ||||||||||
| College | Northwestern | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||
Operations | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
Player
Coach | |||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||||
| Regular season | 23–11–2 (.667) | ||||||||||
| Postseason | 1–1 (.500) | ||||||||||
| Career | 24–12–2 (.658) | ||||||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||
Luke Andrew Johnsos Sr. (December 9, 1905 – December 10, 1984) was an American professionalfootball player,assistant coach, andhead coach for theChicago Bears of theNational Football League (NFL).[1] He started with the Bears in 1929 at the age of 23 as anend. He played eight seasons in Chicago finishing his playing career in 1936. He then spent 32 years as a Bears coach, including three as co-head coach duringWorld War II.
Johnsos graduated fromSchurz High School in Chicago in 1924, while there he playedfootball andbaseball. After graduation, he went toNorthwestern University andlettered inbasketball, baseball, andfootball, earning nine letters in total.
In 1929, he was signed by the Bears when Northwestern teammateWalter Holmer insisted he be part of the conditions; while Holmer was paid $5,000 as a salary, Johnsos received only $100 upon joining the team, which he commented was becauseGeorge Halas felt he "wasn't worth [a higher pay]."[2] Johnsos also signed a baseball contract with theCincinnati Reds, but did not play due to eyesight problems.[3]
As a player for the Bears, he was namedAll-Pro twice. Nicknamed "Professor" and the "Bears' Brain Trust", Johnsos was praised by his peers for his knowledge of the game.[3] TeammateRed Grange also called him "one of the best ends in the league and a great pass receiver."[4]
In 1937, with his playing career now over, Johnsos became an assistant coach for the Bears.
Following the October 25, 1942 victory over thePhiladelphia Eagles, the Bears' twelfth victory in a row, Halas turned his team over to Johnsos and fellow assistantHunk Anderson as he left to serve inWorld War II. With Anderson and Johnsos leading the team, the Bears won the1943 NFL Championship Game. Before the 1945 season, Johnsos received an offer to take over as head coach of theCleveland Rams, but declined as he wished to stay in Chicago.[5] Halas re-assumed head coaching duties in 1946 and Johnsos returned to his assistant role.[6] In 1949, rumors surfaced of Johnsos becoming head coach of theChicago Cardinals, though Halas denied it and Johnsos said he had not received an offer.
The Bears won the1963 NFL Championship Game over theNew York Giants with the help of a play designed by Johnsos nicknamed the "Ditka Special"; on third down late in the game, tight endMike Ditka caught a pass that placed the Bears on the Giants' one-yard line. QuarterbackBill Wade scored the game-winning touchdown on the next play.[3]
Johnsos retired from coaching after the 1969 season, ending 40 years at field level with the Bears. He remained involved in the organization as the director of technical research, replacing the latePaddy Driscoll, and served in the position through 1974.[7][8][9]
Johnsos was a former owner of the printing companyJohnsos-Coppock Printing, which he later sold toBagcraft Corp. of America but remained as an executive until late 1984. Two weeks after departing the company, he died on December 10 at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife Rosemary, four daughters, a son, and 15 grandchildren.[4]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CHI | 1942 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st in NFL Western | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toWashington Redskins inNFL Championship Game. |
| CHI | 1943 | 8 | 1 | 1 | .850 | 1st in NFL Western | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1943 NFL Champions |
| CHI | 1944 | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | 2nd in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| CHI | 1945 | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | 4th in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| CHI Total | 23 | 11 | 2 | .667 | 1 | 1 | .500 | – | ||
| Total | 23 | 11 | 2 | .667 | 1 | 1 | .500 | – | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
