Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank began his football career in Ohio in 1928, coaching Van Wert and McGuffey High Schools through the 30s. His first college coaching job was actually for the Miami of Ohio basketball team as a brief substitute when the team's coach left for another gig.

In 1947, Ewbank took the head coaching job at Washington University in St. Louis. The Bears were sans a football team between 1943 and 46 due to World War II. In two seasons under Ewbank, the Bears went 14-4, including a 9-1 record in 1948.

Ewbank made it to the NFL in 1954, as head coach of the Baltimore Colts. The team went on to win championships in 1958 and 59 under Ewbank. The 1958 game, between the Colts and the New York Giants, on December 28 at Yankee Stadium, is referred to as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The colts won 23-17 in sudden death overtime. The game featured a dozen future Hall-of-Famers, including Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Frank Gifford, Raymond Berry, and Pat Summerall.

Ewbank was fired after the 1962 season and replaced with Don Shula. The following year he became coach of the New York Jets, a sub-.500 team for each of its first three seasons as the New York Titans. The hiring of Ewbank, plus the signing of Matt Snell and Joe Namath would turn the team around and lead them to victory in SuperBowl III in 1969, the game before which Namath guaranteed victory for the Jets, making Ewbank the only pro football coach to lead two different teams to championship wins.

The year prior Ewbank was involved in another famous game, known as "The Heidi Game." The November 17, 1968 game between the Jets and the Oakland Raiders was cut with 65 seconds left to play by NBC in favor of a showing of the made-for-TV film "Heidi." The Jets were leading 32-29, and NBC decided the game was over. But, in those 65 seconds, the Raiders scored 14 points and won the game 43-32.

Ewbank was selected as the Head Coach of the AFL All-Time Team, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978. With his championships won, and his involvement in some of the greatest games in American football history, Ewbank remains one of the greatest coaches in AFL and NFL history.

Learn more about this author, Michael Frissore.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about NFL coach profiles: Weeb Ewbank?
We want to hear your view. Write now!