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| No. 34, 46 | |
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| Position: | Defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1937-02-22)February 22, 1937 Geneva, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died: | May 3, 2019(2019-05-03) (aged 82) |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Wheaton (IL) |
| College: | Wisconsin |
| NFL draft: | 1959: 10th round, 119th pick |
| AFL draft: | 1960: 2 Pick: 1 (by theLos Angeles Chargers)th round |
| Career history | |
As a player: | |
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As a coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Edward Robert Zeman[1] (February 22, 1937 – May 3, 2019)[2] was anAmerican footballdefensive back who played six seasons in theAmerican Football League (AFL) from1960 to1966.
Zeman attendedWheaton Warrenville South High School inWheaton, Illinois, the home town as legendary collegiate and professional running backRed Grange.[3] Also himself originally a running back, Zeman managed to break several of the "Galloping Ghost's" high school records.[3] He was later inducted into its Hall of Fame.[4]
Zeman played on both sides of the ball atWisconsin.[5] However, he never eclipsed 600 yards of rushing,[6] playing mostly defense. After playing in theRose Bowl his senior year, Zeman met with executives in Los Angeles.[7]
Zeman was drafted by theLos Angeles Chargers in the1960 AFL draft.[7] Zeman was part of a stellar defense nicknamed the "Seven Pirates" — a squad which intercepted an AFL record 49 passes during the1961 season.[3]
In his first season with theDenver Broncos, Zeman garnered aPro Bowl selection on the strength of six interceptions; one was returned for a touchdown.[8]
Zeman injured his knee at the end of the1966 season tacklingMike Garrett. He never returned to professional football.[9]
A couple years after retiring as a player, Zeman started to coach at the college level. His first stop wasNorthwestern, where he coached defensive backs in 1968 and 1969.[10] He then went and coached at his alma materWisconsin in 1970.[11]
He then coached for theOakland Raiders between 1971 and 1977, and wonSuper Bowl XI with the team.[12] Zeman then coached with a team he had played for, theDenver Broncos, between 1978 and 1982.[13] He spent the following year as the defensive coordinator of theBuffalo Bills.[14] His later stops included theLos Angeles Rams, scouting for some teams, and stints withMike Holmgren in both San Francisco and Seattle.
In 2017 Zeman, along with other players from the inaugural year, presented the Chargers organization with a signed ball for its move back to the city of Los Angeles.[15]