Don McCafferty

As a player

• New York Giants (1943 )

As coach

• Baltimore Colts (1962-1972)
• Detroit Lions (1973 )

• Super Bowl V champion (1971 )
• Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame (1992 )

Donald William McCafferty ( born March 12, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA; † 28 July 1974 in Pontiac, Michigan) was an US- American football player and coach in the National Football League ( NFL).

Playing career

McCafferty played as offensive lineman at Ohio State University. In the years 1941 and 1942, he was honored by his college because of his athletic achievements. In 1942 he played in the College All- Star Game.

Don McCafferty was drafted by the New York Giants in the 13th round to 116 place in 1943. He played in the team managed by Steve Owen only one season as an end and moved into this year with the team in the NFL Championship Game, where they lost to the Chicago Bears with 24:14.

Coaching career

Don McCafferty was from 1948 to 1959 assistant coach at Kent State University before he was offensive coordinator from 1959 to 1962 Weeb Ewbank of, the former head coach of the Baltimore Colts. Quarterback of the Colts was one of the best players who has ever played at this position with Johnny Unitas. Already in his first year won the Colts the NFL championship game against the New York Giants at 31:16.

Ewbank was fired by the Colts in 1962 and replaced by Don Shula. McCafferty stayed with the Colts and was an assistant to Shula. The coaching change brought initially no measurable success for the Colts. Not until 1964 was able to move into the play -offs, the team from Baltimore again, in the final one but the Cleveland Browns were beaten 27-0. In the 1965 season the Colts the Green Bay Packers defeated in the championship game 13-10. Due to a knee injury McCafferty could not rely on Unitas, which explained the meager results of 32 yards space thanks to passing trains in this game.

After unsuccessful years 1966 and 1967 the Colts managed only in the round of the 1968 entry into the AFL- NFL Championship Game, which was later renamed in Super Bowl III. Earl Morrall had meanwhile Unitas displaced from the position of the starting quarterbacks. The NFC Championship Game was won with 34:0 superior to the Browns. Opponent in the Super Bowl were now trained by Ewbank New York Jets. Their quarterback Joe Namath had publicly announced a victory of his team over the favoritisierten Colts before the game and then into action. The Colts, who had again resorted to Unitas as quarterback, lost with 16:7.

Before the 1970 season, Shula joined the Miami Dolphins and was replaced by McCafferty. With a record of 11 wins from 14 games he managed in his first year as head coach of making the play -offs, where you first defeated the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game with 27:17. In a tight game still managed a 16:13 victory in Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys, coached by Tom Landry. Although the Colts were able to move in the following year 1971 in the Play Offs and lost only in the AFC Championship game against the Dolphins with 21:0, McCafferty was during the 1972 season because of a losing streak, and because he refused to banish Unitas on the Reserve Bank dismissed by the general manager of his team.

In 1973, he signed a contract with the Detroit Lions. McCafferty suffered a heart attack in 1974, at which he died. He is buried in Timonium, Maryland.