.jpg) McPeak in 1961 | |||||||
| No. 84 | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1926-07-26)July 26, 1926 New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | May 7, 1991(1991-05-07) (aged 64) Foxboro, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College: | Pittsburgh | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1948: 16th round, 142nd pick | ||||||
| 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: | 21–46–3 (.321) | ||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||
William Patrick McPeak (July 24, 1926 – May 7, 1991) was anAmerican football player and coach in theNational Football League (NFL). He was drafted by thePittsburgh Steelers in the 16th round of the 1948 NFL Draft, playing nine seasons for them. He also was the head coach of theWashington Redskins and offensive coordinator of theMiami Dolphins.
Born inNew Castle, Pennsylvania, McPeak was a stardefensive end for theUniversity of Pittsburgh. He wasdrafted by thePittsburgh Steelers where he played from 1949 to 1957.[1] During the final two years of his playing career he also became an assistant coach for the team.
In 1959, McPeak joined theWashington Redskins as an assistant under head coachMike Nixon. After Nixon's dismissal following the1960 NFL season, McPeak was promoted to head coach andgeneral manager on December 19, 1960; he was the youngest head coach in the league at the age of 34. He remained in that position until 1965. It was McPeak that persuaded team ownerGeorge Preston Marshall to go withNorm Snead as their quarterback with their first round pick in 1961 (over players such asFran Tarkenton, picked two rounds later by Minnesota).[2][3] A five-win season in 1962 was their highest in five years; it was the first with Bobby Mitchell, who they traded for to make the first black player in franchise history.[4]
McPeak got a two-year contract and raise after winning six games in 1964. He was then fired after the next season.[5]
Although the Redskins did not have a winning season under McPeak with an overall 21-46-3 record, the team acquired players, many of whom would become future Hall of Famers, that would eventually play a part in their later winning years. They includeSonny Jurgensen,Bobby Mitchell,Charley Taylor,Jerry Smith,Len Hauss, andChris Hanburger.
McPeak was fired after 1965 forOtto Graham, who was given a ten-year contract by team presidentEdward Bennett Williams.[6]
After spending the 1966 season as acolor commentator forSt. Louis Cardinals games onCBS, McPeak joined theDetroit Lions as anoffensive coordinator in 1967, a position he held until 1972 when he moved on to theMiami Dolphins to replaceHoward Schnellenberger who became head coach of theBaltimore Colts. His tenure in Miami would last for only two seasons due to complications suffered after a stroke, which he spent several years recovering from. He would later join theNew England Patriots after returning to health, where he became director of scouting for twelve years.
McPeak died of a heart attack on May 7, 1991, at the age of 64 at his home inFoxboro, Massachusetts.
