Harland Svare Explained

Harland Svare
Number:65, 76, 84
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:15 November 1930
Birth Place:Clarkfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Death Place:Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lbs:214
High School:North Kitsap (WA)
College:Washington State
Draftyear:1953
Draftround:17
Draftpick:204
Pastteams:
Pastcoaching:
Highlights:
  • NFL champion (1956)
Pfr:SvarHa20
Pfrcoach:SvarHa0
Pfrexec:SvarHa0

Harland James Svare (November 25, 1930 – April 4, 2020)[2] was an American professional football player, coach and general manager. Svare was a linebacker who played eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1953 to 1960. He was the Rams head coach from midway the 1962 season through 1965, and the San Diego Chargers head coach from 1971 through 1973. He was general manager of the Chargers from 1971 to 1976.

During the halftime intermission of a November 1972 game, Chargers owner Eugene V. Klein awarded Svare a five-year coaching contract, an unpopular decision; however, Svare voluntarily stepped down from the position during the following season.[3]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
LA19620517th in NFL Western
LA19635906th in NFL Western
LA19645725th in NFL Western
LA196541007th in NFL Western
LA Total 14 31 3
SD19712203rd in AFC West
SD19724914th in AFC West
SD19731614th in AFC West
SD Total 7 17 2
Total 21 48 5

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harland Svare Coaching Record . Pro Football Archives . November 30, 2021.
  2. News: Goldstein . Richard . April 27, 2020 . Harland Svare, 89, Giants Linebacker and Young Head Coach, Dies . live . https://archive.today/20200428061134/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/sports/football/harland-svare-dead.html . April 28, 2020 . April 28, 2020 . The New York Times.
  3. News: Magee. Jerry. As Klein Passes on Chargers, Era Ends in San Diego: Whether Right or Wrong, he 'Ran the Show'. The San Diego Union. August 28, 1984. FOOTBALL. Often, though, history's lesson is that Klein has moved too hastily, as he did in November 1972 when he awarded a new five-year coaching contract to Harland Svare at halftime of a game...That decision signaled the most raucous period the Chargers have experienced. Angry cries of "Five more years!" were heard in Mission Valley until Svare stepped down as coach a year later..