Chuck Noll
As a player
- Cleveland Browns (1953-1959)
As assistant coach
- Los Angeles Chargers (1960 )
- San Diego Chargers (1961-1965)
- Baltimore Colts (1966-1968)
As Head Coach
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1991)
- 2x NFL Coach of the Year Award
- NFL 1970s All- Decade Team
- NFL 1980s All- Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993 )
As Head Coach
- 4x Super Bowl winner
- 4x AFC Championship winner
As a player
- 2x NFL Championship winner
As assistant coach
- AFL Championship winner
- NFL Championship winner
Charles Henry " Chuck" Noll ( born January 5, 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA ) is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League ( NFL). Noll has won four times as coach of the Super Bowl, he is so record holder in the NFL.
- 2.1 Assistant Coach
- 2.2 Head Coach
Playing career
College career
Chuck Noll was born into a family originating from Germany in Cleveland. Even in high school he played American football. After leaving school he received a scholarship to the University of Dayton and studied teaching. For the football team of the college, the Daytona Flyers, he played as captain of the team also American football.
Professional career
Noll was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 20 lap 239 place in 1953. For coached by Paul Brown Browns he first played as a guard and moved to the position of linebackers later. In Defense of the team played numerous All-Pro players like Len Ford or Dante Lavelli. In his rookie year Noll failed even in the NFL championship game with 17:16 on the Detroit Lions. In the following years, both finals game could be won. In 1954 against the Lions with 54:10 and 1955 against the Los Angeles Rams at 38:14. In both games, Noll came as a starter for use. In 1957 and 1958, the Browns failed twice in the NFL playoff. After the 1959 season Noll ended his playing career.
Coaching career
Assistant coach
In 1960, Noll was assistant coach Sid Gillman of at the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers played in the newly formed American Football League ( AFL) a competitive league of the NFL. As a player and a coach Noll was Defense Specialist and was responsible for the defense in the team from Los Angeles. The Chargers were able to establish itself immediately as a top team in the league. By 1965, they moved five times in the AFL championship game. In 1963, the Boston Patriots were beaten in the final by 51:10. Noll 's backcourt defense allowed only 186 yards to space thanks to the passing game, the Chargers reached 292 yards. In the room total profit achieved with the ratio 610 to 291 yards was even clearer.
After the 1965 season Noll moved to the trained by Don Shula Baltimore Colts. The Colts were known for their superior offense, led by quarterback Johnny Unitas, but also the defense of the team from Baltimore was very well attended with players like Bobby Boyd or Mike Curtis. Noll took over the responsibility for the defensive backfield of the team. 1967 Bubba Smith could be required as a reinforcement for the defense. The Colts had a good year in 1967, but failed in the final game of the regular season on making the play offs. The following year, they could, however, prevail in NFL playoff against the Browns with 34:0. Noll 's defensive backfield was merely a space gain of 117 yards through the passing game, which was offset by 169 yards latitude of Colts. Through the playoff victory the Colts in Super Bowl could move where they however had in Super Bowl III, Weeb Ewbank coached by the New York Jets defeated with 16:7. Although the game for a long time was balanced, the defense of the Colts was not able to stop the quarterback of the Jets Joe Namath, who understood it again and again to play his wide receiver.
Head Coach
The success of Noll had become widely known in the NFL. In 1969, Joe Paterno declined the offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers to train. The way was thus free for Chuck Noll, who until 1991 was to remain faithful to the Steelers. The defensive specialist Noll took over one of the worst teams in the league. In 1969, Joe Greene came to the team and Noll began his team to strengthen gradually. In 1970, the quarterback Terry Bradshaw and cornerback Mel Blount came to the team in 1971 succeeded the obligation of Mel Hein. 1972 attracted the Steelers under the leadership of Noll with their new running back Franco Harris for the first time in the play offs, but where the team failed early in the trained by Don Shula Miami Dolphins. Before the 1974 season, the Steelers were able to make more decisive player commitments. In addition to the commitment of Mike Webster and Jack Lambert succeeded John Stallworth and Lynn Swann to bind to the club. The defense was one of the most feared defenses in the NFL and received from the football fans the nickname Steel Curtain.
In 1974, the team coached by Noll of Pittsburgh for the first time won the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl IX, the Minnesota Vikings were beaten with 16:6. The game was largely dominated by the two defenses and the quarterback of the Vikings Fran Tarkenton could not significantly affect the play of a team. In 1975, the second entry into the Super Bowl and this time the Steelers in Super Bowl X were able to prevail against the Dallas Cowboys at 21:17. Noll 's Steel Curtain forced the quarterback of the Cowboys Roger Staubach to three game-winning interceptions. 1978 succeeded Noll then collect for the third time with his team in the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XIII was again the cowboys of the opponents. The 35:31 victory had to be hard-won. Trained by Tom Landry Cowboys proved to be a formidable foe. Bradshaw, however, had caught a great day and was able to score four touchdowns. The 1979 season could end with a Super Bowl win Noll and the Steelers. The Los Angeles Rams were able to qualify as an NFC team. By the end of the third quarter, the Steelers game could not be deducted crucial. Only in the last quarter of the game Terry Bradshaw scored a 73 yard touchdown pass to Stallworth and Franco Harris a run into the end zone of the Rams. The 31:19 victory was the fourth and last Super Bowl win by Noll. Until 1991, Noll was still able to move four times with his team in the play offs. A title win him no longer able. After the 1991 season, which ended with seven victories in nine defeats, Noll put to rest. He was replaced by Bill Cowher.
Noll denied as head coach 342 games. From where he won 193 games, which corresponds to an average of 56.6 %. Of his 24 games in the play- offs He has won 16. The average achieved thereby amounts to 66.7 %.
Importance for the Football Sport
Chuck Noll was not only able to win numerous titles. He was also a promoter of dark-skinned players and coaches, such as Franco Harris, Mel Blount, Lynn Swann or John Stallworth. They all are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tony Dungy was a player and assistant coach at Noll and won the Super Bowl XLI as coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
Honors
Charles Henry Noll was elected twice to the NFL Coach of the Year. He is a member of the NFL 1970s All- Decade Team, NFL 1980s All- Decade in the team and since 1993 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In Super Bowl XXVI, and Super Bowl XXXI he took the coin toss prior to admission. The Saint Vincent College named a field after him.
Away from the NFL
Noll is married and has one child. He lives in a suburb of Pittsburgh.