The Ultimate George Allen (football) - American History Information Guide and Reference

George Herbert Allen (April 29, 1918 - December 31, 1990) was an American football coach in the NFL.

Contents

Early Life

Allen was born on April 29, 1918, in Detroit, Michigan, where his father worked in an auto plant. He earned varsity letters in football, track and basketball at Lake Shore High School.

Allen went to Alma College and later at Marquette University, where he was sent as an officer trainee in the U.S. Navy's World War II V-12 program. He attended the University of Michigan where he earned his M.S. in Physical Education in 1947.

Coaching Career

In 1948, Allen became coach to Morningside College in Iowa. Over three years, he compiled a 15-2-2 record. From 1951 through 1956, he coached Whittier College in California where he put together a 32-22-5 mark.

He joined the Los Angeles Rams staff in 1957. In 1958, owner and head coach George Halas hired him as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bears. Allen was an innovator with the Bears draft as well as with defenses that he deployed to help the Bears win the 1963 NFLchampionship game over the New York Giants. After the 14-10 title game victory, the team voted Allen the game ball. Three of Allen’s draft picks he had coached during those years became hall of fame players.

He became head coach of the Los Angeles Rams from 1966 to 1970, and then the Washington Redskins from 1971 to 1977. He coached the Redskins to Super Bowl VII, where they lost to the Miami Dolphins.

In his later years he coached in the USFL and returned for one year to coach at Long Beach State University .

Notable accomplishiments

Allen had the second best winning percentage in the NFL, only exceeded by Vince Lombardi. He also had the distinction of never coaching a team to a losing season. This was particularly notable in the case of the Redskins, which before he arrived scored only one winning season from 15.

He was noted primarily as a defensive innovator, and as a motivator. Allen was an early innovator in the use of sophisticated playbooks, well-organized drafts, use of special teams and daring trades for veterans over new players.

He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.