Fred O'Connor

Last updated

Fred O'Connor
Biographical details
Born (1939-09-01) September 1, 1939 (age 84)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Alma mater East Stroudsburg State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1963 Oceanside HS (NY) (assistant)
1964–1965 Newfield HS (NY) (assistant)
1966–1969 C. W. Post (assistant)
1970 Villanova (QB/WR)
1971 Maryland (QB/WR)
1972 Southern Miss (OC/QB)
1973Villanova (OC)
1974 Florida Blazers (OB)
1975–1977 Chicago Bears (OB)
1978 San Francisco 49ers (OC)
1978San Francisco 49ers (interim HC)
1979–1980 Washington Redskins (OB)
1981 Montreal Alouettes (OC)
1987–1989 Catholic University
2000 Florida Atlantic (WR)
2001–2002Florida Atlantic (RB)
2003Florida Atlantic (QB)
2004Florida Atlantic (spec. asst. to the HC)
2004Florida Atlantic (RB)
2005–2006Florida Atlantic (spec. asst. to the HC)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1984–1990 Catholic
Head coaching record
Overall1–6 (NFL)
17–13 (college)

Fred O'Connor (born September 1, 1939) is a former American football coach and administrator whose career spanned more than 30 years at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He served in coaching positions in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and World Football League (WFL). Most notably, O'Connor was the interim head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers for the last seven games of the 1978 season, posting a mark of 1–6. [1] He also was the executive director of athletics at The Catholic University of America from May 1984 through June 1990 and served as the Cardinals head football coach for three seasons (1987–1989), compiling an overall college football record of 17 wins and 13 losses.

Contents

O'Connor began his professional football career as the offensive backfield coach on Jack Pardee's staffs with both the World Football League's Florida Blazers in 1974 and the Chicago Bears for three seasons from 1975 to 1977. He was reunited with Pardee in a similar capacity with the Washington Redskins on February 5, 1979. [2] Coached three Hall of Fame Running Backs, Walter Payton, O.J. Simpson and John Riggins. Also coached in four All-Star games; 1976 Senior Bowl, 1978 Challenge Bowl and the 2009 and 2010 Texas vs The Nation games.

Head coaching record

College

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Catholic University Cardinals (NCAA Division III independent)(1987–1989)
1987 Catholic University3–7
1988 Catholic University6–4
1989 Catholic University8–2
Catholic University:17–13
Total:17–13

[3]

NFL

TeamYearRegular Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish
SF 1978 160.1434th in NFC West
SF Total160.143
Total>160.143

[4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Pardee</span> American football player and coach (1936–2013)

John Perry Pardee was an American professional football player and head coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). As a coach, he is the only head coach to helm a team in college football, the NFL, the United States Football League (USFL), the World Football League (WFL), and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Pardee was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Shanahan</span> American football coach (born 1952)

Michael Edward Shanahan is an American football coach serving as an offensive consultant to the New York Jets, best known as the head coach of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2008. During his fourteen seasons with the Broncos, he led the team to two consecutive Super Bowl victories in XXXII and XXXIII; along with being the first Super Bowl championships in team history, they were the seventh team to win consecutive Super Bowls in NFL history. His head coaching career spanned a total of twenty seasons and also included stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and Washington Redskins. He is the father of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Fisher</span> American football player and coach (born 1958)

Jeffrey Michael Fisher is an American football coach and former cornerback and return specialist. He served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 22 seasons, primarily with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. Fisher coached the Oilers / Titans from 1994 to 2010 and the St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams from 2012 to 2016. He is currently the interim commissioner of the Arena Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 NFL season</span> 1978 National Football League season

The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16 games, which it remained in place until 2021 when it was increased to 17 games. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference. The wild card teams played each other, with the winner advancing to the playoff round of eight teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Zorn</span> American football player and coach (born 1953)

James Arthur Zorn is an American former professional football player and coach. Zorn was a left-handed quarterback, and is best known as the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks for their first eight seasons. He was the quarterback coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 2001 until the 2007 season. Before the 2008 season Zorn was originally hired by the Washington Redskins to serve as offensive coordinator. Two weeks after being hired, he was promoted as the team's head coach.

Leonard Ray Brown Jr. is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) He played as a guard and tackle for 20 seasons. He became a coach, last serving as the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Shanahan</span> American football coach (born 1979)

Kyle Michael Shanahan is an American football coach who is the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, whose offense in 2016 led the league in points scored and helped the team reach Super Bowl LI. Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers the following season, whom he has led to three division titles, four postseason appearances, four NFC Championship Game appearances, and two Super Bowl appearances.

Andrew Robert Heck is an American football coach and former player. He is the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. He was drafted in the 1989 NFL Draft with the 15th overall selection in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks He played college football at the University of Notre Dame. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Snead</span> American football player (1939–2024)

Norman Bailey Snead was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was selected in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft with the second overall pick.

Monte Leon Coleman is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1994. He was the head football coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hanburger</span> American football player (born 1941)

Christian G. Hanburger, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire 14-year career with the Washington Redskins, from 1965 through 1978, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Nelms</span> American gridiron football player (born 1955)

Michael Craig Nelms is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1980 to 1984. Before his NFL career, Nelms played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Gruden</span> American football coach and player (born 1967)

Jay Michael Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He previously served as the head coach of the Washington Redskins from 2014 to 2019 and as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars. During his time in the Arena Football League (AFL), he won four ArenaBowls as a player and two more as a head coach. Gruden is the younger brother of former NFL head coach Jon Gruden and was an assistant coach of the 2002 Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl XXXVII.

Malcolm "Mike" Thomas was an American professional football player who was a running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1975.

LaVern Earl "Torgy" Torgeson was an American football player and coach. He played college football for Washington State from 1948 through 1950. Torgeson played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, principally as a linebacker, for the Detroit Lions from 1951 to 1954 and for the Washington Redskins from 1955 to 1957.

Tommy Reamon is a retired African-American professional football player, who has worked as an actor, and is currently an educator in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. As a high school football coach, Reamon has had some notable success in developing talent to become collegiate and professional football players among his students.

Pete McCulley was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the National Football League (NFL)'s San Francisco 49ers for the first nine games of the 1978 season. Winning only one game during that span, he was fired and replaced with Fred O'Connor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Williams</span> American football player (born 1988)

Trent Williams is an American football offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was recognized as an All-American, and was selected by the Washington Redskins fourth overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Williams is considered one of the best tackles in the league, having made eleven Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams.

References

  1. "Name Fred O'Connor new coach of 49ers". Bangor Daily News . Associated Press. November 1, 1978. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  2. Brady, Dave. "O'Connor Hired by Redskins; Ex-49er Coach To Handle Backs," The Washington Post, Tuesday, February 6, 1979. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  3. "NCAA Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. Fred O'Connor, Statistics, and Category Ranks - Pro-Football-Reference.com