Sid Gillman
Encyclopedia
Sidney "Sid" Gillman was an American football
player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes
, instead of short passes to running back
s or wide receiver
s at the sides of the line of scrimmage
, was instrumental in making football into the modern game that it is today.
Gillman played football as an end at Ohio State University
from 1931 to 1933. He played professionally for one season in 1936 with the Cleveland Rams
of the 1936 American Football League
. After serving as an assistant coach at Ohio State from 1938 to 1940, Gillman was the head football coach at Miami University
from 1944 to 1947 and at the University of Cincinnati
from 1949 to 1954, compiling a career college football
record of 81–19–2. He then moved to the ranks of coaching Professional Football
, where he headed the NFL's Los Angeles Rams (1955–1959), the American Football League
's Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers
(1960–1969), and the NFL's Chargers (1971), and Houston Oilers (1973–1974), amassing a career record of 123–104–7 in the National Football League
and the American Football League
. Gillman's 1963 San Diego Chargers
won the AFL Championship. Gillman was inducted as a coach into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1983 and the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1989.
, Gillman played college football
at Ohio State University
under legendary coach Francis Schmidt
, forming the basis of his offense. He was a team captain and All-Big Ten Conference
end in 1933.
Always deeply interested in the game, while working as a movie theater usher, he removed football segments from newsreel
s that the theater would show, so that he could take them home and study them on a projector he had bought. This dedication to filmed football plays that made Gillman the first coach to study game footage, something that all coaches do today.
Gillman played one year in the American Football League (1936)
for the Cleveland Rams
, then became an assistant coach at Denison University
, Ohio State University
, and was an assistant coach to Earl Blaik
of Army
, then head coach at Miami University
and at the University of Cincinnati
. His record over 10 years as a college head coach were 81–19–2.
He returned to professional football as a head coach with the Los Angeles Rams, leading the team to the NFL's championship game, and then moved to the American Football League
(1960–1969), where he coached the Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers
to five Western Division titles and one league championship in the first six years of the league's existence.
His greatest coaching success came after he was persuaded by Barron Hilton
, then the Chargers' majority owner, to become the head coach of the American Football League franchise he planned to operate in Los Angeles. When the team's general manager
, Frank Leahy
, became ill during the Chargers' founding season, Gillman took on additional responsibilities as general manager.
As the first coach of the Chargers, Gillman gave the team a mercurial personality that matched his own.
He had much to do with the American Football League being able to establish itself. Gillman was a thorough professional, and in order to compete with him, his peers had to learn pro ways. They learned, and the American Football League became the genesis of modern professional football.
"Sid Gillman brought class to the AFL," Oakland Raiders
managing general partner Al Davis
once said of the man he served under on that first Chargers team. "Being part of Sid's organization was like going to a laboratory for the highly developed science of professional football."
Through Gillman's tenure as head coach, the Chargers went 87–57–6 and won five AFL Western Division titles. In 1963 they captured the only league championship the club ever won by outscoring the Boston Patriots, 51–10, in the American Football League championship game in Balboa Stadium
. That game was a measure of Gillman's genius.
He crafted a game plan he entitled "Feast or Famine" that used motion, then seldom seen, to negate the Patriots' blitzes. His plan freed running back Keith Lincoln
to rush for 206 yards. In addition to Lincoln, on Gillman's teams through the '60s were these notable players: wide receiver Lance Alworth
; offensive tackle Ron Mix
; running back Paul Lowe
; quarterback John Hadl
; and defensive linemen Ernie Ladd
and Earl Faison
(Alworth and Mix are Hall of Famer
s). Gillman was one of only two head coaches to hold that position for the entire 10-year existence of the American Football League
(the other was Hank Stram
, who coached the Dallas Texans
and Kansas City Chiefs
from 1960 through 1974).
Gillman approached then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle
in 1963 with the idea of having the champions of the AFL and the NFL play a single final game, but his idea was not implemented until the Super Bowl
game was played in 1967.
Following his tenure with San Diego, he coached the Houston Oilers for two years from 1973 to 1974, helping bring the club out of the funk it had been in for many seasons prior, and closer to playoff contention. He later served as a consultant for both Dick Vermeil
's Philadelphia Eagles
and the United States Football League
's Los Angeles Express.
In July 1983, at age 71, Gillman came out of retirement after an offer from Bill Tatham, Sr. and Bill Tatham, Jr., owners of the United States Football League expansion team the Oklahoma Outlaws. Gillman agreed to serve as Director of Operations and signed quarterback Doug Williams, who later led the Washington Redskins
to victory in Super Bowl XXII
. Although Gillman signed a roster of players to play for the Tulsa, Oklahoma
-based franchise, he was fired by Tatham six months later in a dispute over finances.
Don Coryell
, the coach at San Diego State University
when Gillman was coaching the San Diego Chargers, would bring his team to Chargers' practices to watch how Gillman ran his practices. Coryell went on to coach in the NFL, and some of his assistants, influenced by the Gillman style, included coaches Joe Gibbs
, Ernie Zampese
and Russ A. Molzahn.
Besides the downfield pass, film footage, and the idea of the Super Bowl, Gillman also came up with the idea of putting players' names on the backs of their uniforms.
in 1983 and into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1989.
Upon his death in 2003, Gillman was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
in Culver City, California
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
, instead of short passes to running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s or wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s at the sides of the line of scrimmage
Line of scrimmage
In American and Canadian football a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun...
, was instrumental in making football into the modern game that it is today.
Gillman played football as an end at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
from 1931 to 1933. He played professionally for one season in 1936 with the Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
of the 1936 American Football League
American Football League (1936)
Sometimes called AFL II, the second American Football League was a professional American football league that operated in 1936 and 1937. The AFL operated in direct competition with the more established National Football League throughout its existence...
. After serving as an assistant coach at Ohio State from 1938 to 1940, Gillman was the head football coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
from 1944 to 1947 and at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
from 1949 to 1954, compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 81–19–2. He then moved to the ranks of coaching Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
, where he headed the NFL's Los Angeles Rams (1955–1959), the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1960–1969), and the NFL's Chargers (1971), and Houston Oilers (1973–1974), amassing a career record of 123–104–7 in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. Gillman's 1963 San Diego Chargers
1963 San Diego Chargers season
The 1963 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–10 record in 1962. They won their only AFL Championship with a win over the Boston Patriots. Lance Alworth was named the league M.V.P....
won the AFL Championship. Gillman was inducted as a coach into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1983 and the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1989.
Biography
Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Gillman played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
under legendary coach Francis Schmidt
Francis Schmidt
Francis Albert Schmidt was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at the University of Tulsa , the University of Arkansas , Texas Christian University , Ohio State University , and the University of Idaho , compiling a...
, forming the basis of his offense. He was a team captain and All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
end in 1933.
Always deeply interested in the game, while working as a movie theater usher, he removed football segments from newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
s that the theater would show, so that he could take them home and study them on a projector he had bought. This dedication to filmed football plays that made Gillman the first coach to study game footage, something that all coaches do today.
Gillman played one year in the American Football League (1936)
American Football League (1936)
Sometimes called AFL II, the second American Football League was a professional American football league that operated in 1936 and 1937. The AFL operated in direct competition with the more established National Football League throughout its existence...
for the Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
, then became an assistant coach at Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, and was an assistant coach to Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
of Army
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, then head coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
and at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
. His record over 10 years as a college head coach were 81–19–2.
He returned to professional football as a head coach with the Los Angeles Rams, leading the team to the NFL's championship game, and then moved to the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(1960–1969), where he coached the Los Angeles and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to five Western Division titles and one league championship in the first six years of the league's existence.
His greatest coaching success came after he was persuaded by Barron Hilton
Barron Hilton
William Barron Hilton I is an American business magnate, socialite, and hotel heir. He is the former co-chairman of the Hilton Hotels chain, and the original owner of the Los Angeles Chargers...
, then the Chargers' majority owner, to become the head coach of the American Football League franchise he planned to operate in Los Angeles. When the team's general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
, Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
, became ill during the Chargers' founding season, Gillman took on additional responsibilities as general manager.
As the first coach of the Chargers, Gillman gave the team a mercurial personality that matched his own.
He had much to do with the American Football League being able to establish itself. Gillman was a thorough professional, and in order to compete with him, his peers had to learn pro ways. They learned, and the American Football League became the genesis of modern professional football.
"Sid Gillman brought class to the AFL," Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
managing general partner Al Davis
Al Davis
Allen "Al" Davis was an American football executive. He was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1970 to 2011...
once said of the man he served under on that first Chargers team. "Being part of Sid's organization was like going to a laboratory for the highly developed science of professional football."
Through Gillman's tenure as head coach, the Chargers went 87–57–6 and won five AFL Western Division titles. In 1963 they captured the only league championship the club ever won by outscoring the Boston Patriots, 51–10, in the American Football League championship game in Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium is a football and soccer stadium located in San Diego, California. The original stadium was built in 1914 as part of the many buildings erected for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition located in Balboa Park. Originally called City Stadium, and designed by the Quayle Brothers...
. That game was a measure of Gillman's genius.
He crafted a game plan he entitled "Feast or Famine" that used motion, then seldom seen, to negate the Patriots' blitzes. His plan freed running back Keith Lincoln
Keith Lincoln
Keith Payson Lincoln is a former American football running back who started his career playing college football at Washington State University. He maintained his versatility after being drafted by the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in 1961. In 1963 he led the team in rushing, punt...
to rush for 206 yards. In addition to Lincoln, on Gillman's teams through the '60s were these notable players: wide receiver Lance Alworth
Lance Alworth
Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
; offensive tackle Ron Mix
Ron Mix
Ronald Jack Mix , in Los Angeles, California was an American football player.Mix attended USC, and upon graduation played right tackle and guard for the American Football League's Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and the NFL Oakland Raiders .- College career :A graduate of the University of Southern...
; running back Paul Lowe
Paul Lowe
Paul Edward Lowe is a retired American football running back who played for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League from 1960 to 1969.-College career:...
; quarterback John Hadl
John Hadl
John Willard Hadl is a former collegiate and professional football player.Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's...
; and defensive linemen Ernie Ladd
Ernie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd , nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.-Pro Football career:...
and Earl Faison
Earl Faison
Earl Faison was an American college and Professional Football player who played in the American Football League between 1960 and 1966...
(Alworth and Mix are Hall of Famer
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
s). Gillman was one of only two head coaches to hold that position for the entire 10-year existence of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(the other was Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
, who coached the Dallas Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
from 1960 through 1974).
Gillman approached then-NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle
Pete Rozelle
Alvin Ray "Pete" Rozelle was the commissioner of the National Football League from January 1960 to November 1989, when he retired from office. Rozelle is credited with making the NFL into one of the most successful sports leagues in the world....
in 1963 with the idea of having the champions of the AFL and the NFL play a single final game, but his idea was not implemented until the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
game was played in 1967.
Following his tenure with San Diego, he coached the Houston Oilers for two years from 1973 to 1974, helping bring the club out of the funk it had been in for many seasons prior, and closer to playoff contention. He later served as a consultant for both Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
's Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
's Los Angeles Express.
In July 1983, at age 71, Gillman came out of retirement after an offer from Bill Tatham, Sr. and Bill Tatham, Jr., owners of the United States Football League expansion team the Oklahoma Outlaws. Gillman agreed to serve as Director of Operations and signed quarterback Doug Williams, who later led the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
to victory in Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
. Although Gillman signed a roster of players to play for the Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
-based franchise, he was fired by Tatham six months later in a dispute over finances.
Influence
Gillman's influence on the modern game can be seen by listing the current and former coaches and executives who either played with him or coached for him:- Al LoCasale, an Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
executive - Al DavisAl DavisAllen "Al" Davis was an American football executive. He was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1970 to 2011...
, former owner of the Los Angeles/Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Chuck NollChuck NollCharles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
, who coached the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
to four Super Bowl titles - Ara ParseghianAra ParseghianAra Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6...
, former coach at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States... - Bo SchembechlerBo SchembechlerGlenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
, former coach at the University of Michigan - Bill Walsh, who coached the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
to three Super Bowl titles - Chuck KnoxChuck KnoxCharles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
, former coach of several NFL teams - Dick VermeilDick VermeilRichard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
, coached the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
to a Super Bowl title - George Allen, coach of the Rams and Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
Coaching tree
Numbers indicate Super Bowls won by Gillman's "descendants", a total of twenty-four.
Don Coryell
Don Coryell
Donald David Coryell was an American football coach, who coached in the NFL first with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973–1977 and then the San Diego Chargers from 1978-1986. He was well known for his innovations to football's passing offense. Coryell's offense was commonly known as "Air Coryell"...
, the coach at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
when Gillman was coaching the San Diego Chargers, would bring his team to Chargers' practices to watch how Gillman ran his practices. Coryell went on to coach in the NFL, and some of his assistants, influenced by the Gillman style, included coaches Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
, Ernie Zampese
Ernie Zampese
Ernie Zampese is a former American football player and coach. Playing for Santa Barbara High School, he was selected as the CIS Player of the Year in 1953 and went on to play at the halfback position for the USC Trojans in 1955 and 1956...
and Russ A. Molzahn.
Besides the downfield pass, film footage, and the idea of the Super Bowl, Gillman also came up with the idea of putting players' names on the backs of their uniforms.
Honors and death
Gillman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1983 and into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1989.
Upon his death in 2003, Gillman was interred in the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
The Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary is a Jewish cemetery located at 6001 West Centinela Avenue, in Culver City, California, USA. Many Jewish people from the entertainment industry are buried here.-Notable interments:*Irving Aaronson, composer...
in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
.
College
AFL/NFL
| Team | |Regular Season | LA 1955 Los Angeles Rams season The 1955 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 18th year with the National Football League and the 10th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:... |
1955 1955 NFL season The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game... |
8 | 3 | 1 | 72.7 | 1st in NFL Western Conference | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | Lost to Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in NFL Championship game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA 1956 Los Angeles Rams season The 1956 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 19th year with the National Football League and the 11th season in Los Angeles.-Transactions:... |
1956 1956 NFL season The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season of the National Football League. CBS became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation... |
4 | 8 | 0 | 33.3 | 5th-T in NFL Western Conference | - | - | - | |||
| LA 1957 Los Angeles Rams season The 1957 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 20th year with the National Football League and the 12th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
1957 1957 NFL season The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:... |
6 | 6 | 0 | 50.0 | 4th in NFL Western Conference | - | - | - | |||
| LA 1958 Los Angeles Rams season The 1958 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 21st year with the National Football League and the 13th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
1958 1958 NFL season The 1958 NFL season was the 39th regular season of the National Football League.The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23–17, in the first sudden-death overtime in an NFL Championship Game... |
8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7 | 2nd-T in NFL Western Conference | - | - | - | |||
| LA 1959 Los Angeles Rams season The 1959 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 22nd year with the National Football League and the 14th season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
1959 1959 NFL season The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play... |
2 | 10 | 0 | 20.0 | 6th in NFL Western Conference | - | - | - | |||
| LA Rams Total | 28 | 31 | 1 | 47.5 | 0 | 1 | 00.0 | 1 NFL conference championship | ||||
| LA Chargers 1960 Los Angeles Chargers season The 1960 Los Angeles Chargers season was the team's inaugural season. It was also the inaugural season of the American Football League. The team's only season in Los Angeles ended with a loss in the AFL Championship to the Houston Oilers.-Season schedule:... |
1960 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 71.4 | 1st in AFL West Division | 0 | 1 | 00.0 | Lost to Houston Oilers in AFL championship game | ||
| SD 1961 San Diego Chargers season The 1961 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–4 record in 1960. It was their first season in San Diego where they have remained ever since. Like the previous season, it ended with a loss in the AFL Championship game.... |
1961 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 85.7 | 1st in AFL West Division | 0 | 1 | 00.0 | Lost to Houston Oilers in AFL championship game | ||
| SD 1962 San Diego Chargers season The 1962 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 12–2 record in 1961. The Chargers finished third in the AFL West at 4–10 that season. At the time it was their worst ever season. This would be the only time the Chargers would endure a losing season during their... |
1962 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28.6 | 4th in AFL West Division | - | - | - | |||
| SD 1963 San Diego Chargers season The 1963 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–10 record in 1962. They won their only AFL Championship with a win over the Boston Patriots. Lance Alworth was named the league M.V.P.... |
1963 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 78.6 | 1st in AFL West Division | 1 | 0 | 100.0 | Beat Boston Patriots in AFL championship game | ||
| SD 1964 San Diego Chargers season The 1964 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to repeat as AFL champions having won in 1963 with a recourd of 11–3.-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-See also:*1964 AFL season... |
1964 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 61.5 | 1st in AFL West Division | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | Lost to Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFL championship game |
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| SD 1965 San Diego Chargers season The 1965 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–5–1 record in 1964.-Season schedule:-Playoffs:-See also:*1965 AFL season... |
1965 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 81.8 | 1st in AFL West Division | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | Lost to Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... in AFL championship game |
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| SD 1966 San Diego Chargers season The 1966 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–2–3 record in 1965. It was the team's final season at Balboa Stadium, before moving to San Diego Stadium for the following season. It was also the first season to feature an AFL-NFL World Championship Game now known... |
1966 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 53.8 | 3rd in AFL West Division | - | - | - | |||
| SD 1967 San Diego Chargers season The 1967 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 7–6–3 record in 1966. It was the team's first season at San Diego Stadium .... |
1967 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 61.5 | 3rd in AFL West Division | - | - | - | |||
| SD 1968 San Diego Chargers season The 1968 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–5–1 record in 1967.-Season schedule:-See also:*1968 AFL season... |
1968 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 64.3 | 3rd in AFL West Division | - | - | - | |||
| SD 1969 San Diego Chargers season The 1969 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–5 record in 1968. It was the last American Football League season before the AFL-NFL merger. It was also Sid Gillman's final season as the team's head coach.-Season schedule:... |
1969 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 57.1 | 3rd in AFL West Division | - | - | - | |||
| LA-SD Chargers AFL Total | 86 | 48 | 6 | 63.6 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 | 1 AFL title, 5 AFL division championships | ||||
| SD 1971 San Diego Chargers season The 1971 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–6–3 record in 1970. It was Harland Svare first season as the teams head coach.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
1971 1971 NFL season The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins... |
1 | 9 | 0 | 10.0 | 4th in NFL AFC West | - | - | - | |||
| LA-SD Chargers Total | 87 | 57 | 6 | 60.0 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 | 1 AFL title, 5 AFL division championships | ||||
| Hou 1973 Houston Oilers season The 1973 Houston Oilers season was the 4th season in league and the 14th overall. The team matched their previous season's output of 1–13. They missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
1973 1973 NFL season The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season... |
1 | 8 | 0 | 11.1 | 4th in NFL AFC Central | - | - | - | |||
| Hou 1974 Houston Oilers season The 1974 Houston Oilers season was the 15th season the team was with the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 1–13, winning seven games. Despite the improvement, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
1974 1974 NFL season The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings... |
7 | 7 | 0 | 50.0 | 2nd in NFL AFC Central | - | - | - | |||
| Houston Oilers | 8 | 15 | 0 | 34.8 | - | - | - | |||||
| Professional Total | 123 | 103 | 7 | 54.3 | 1 | 5 | 16.7 | 1 AFL title, 5 AFL division championships, 1 NFL conference championship | ||||