Marion Campbell Explained

Number:76, 78
Position:Defensive lineman
Birth Date:25 May 1929
Birth Place:Chester, South Carolina, U.S.
Death Place:Plano, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lbs:250
College:Georgia
Draftyear:1952
Draftround:4
Draftpick:46
Pastteams:
Pastcoaching:
Highlights:
Coachregrecord:34–80–1
Coachplayoffrecord:0–0
Coachrecord:34–80–1
Pfrcoach:CampMa0

Francis Marion Campbell (May 25, 1929 – July 13, 2016) was an American football defensive lineman and coach. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1949 until 1951, where he was appropriately nicknamed "Swamp Fox" because of his first and middle names. During his National Football League (NFL) playing career, he played for the San Francisco 49ers (1954–1955) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1956–1961), winning Pro Bowl honors in 1959 and 1960 and also being named 1st team All-Pro in 1960 as part of the Eagles' championship team that year. He was one of the last of the NFL's "two-way" players who played all offensive and defensive snaps in a game.

Coaching career

NFL

Campbell was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (twice) and Philadelphia Eagles as well as the defensive coordinator for each team separate from his times as head coach. He also served as defensive line coach for the Boston Patriots (1962–1963), Minnesota Vikings (1964–1966), and the Los Angeles Rams (1967–1968). He was an expert in the 3–4 defense; his Eagles defenses ranked first in the league in points allowed in 1980 and 1981, and second and first in yards allowed. At 46 games under .500, Campbell's 34–80–1 head coaching record is the worst among all NFL head coaches to coach over 100 games and is the fifth lowest winning percentage among head coaches who have coached at least five seasons in the NFL. The only coaches with worse winning percentages are Phil Handler, Bert Bell, Carl Storck, and David Shula.[1]

Georgia

Campbell spent the 1994 season as the defensive coordinator for his alma mater Georgia Bulldogs.[2]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish
ATL1974150.1674th in NFC West
ATL19754100.2863rd in NFC West
ATL1976140.2003rd in NFC West
PHI19835110.3134th in NFC East
PHI1984691.4005th in NFC East
PHI1985690.4004th in NFC East
ATL19873120.2004th in NFC West
ATL19885110.3134th in NFC West
ATL1989390.2504th in NFC West
Total[3] 34801.300

Personal life

Campbell spent two years in the United States Army between college and the NFL. He lived in St. Augustine, Florida with his wife, the former June Roberts. The Campbells have two children: a daughter, Alicia Johnson, and a son, Scott.[4] In 2013, Campbell fell and broke multiple vertebrae in his neck.[5] He died on July 13, 2016.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coaches, Records, and Coaching Totals. .
  2. News: 1993-12-07 . Elsewhere . ALAN SCHMADTKE The Orlando Sentinel . 2015-02-17.
  3. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/CampMa0.htm Marion Campbell Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks – Pro-Football-Reference.com
  4. News: August 2004 . Everybody's All-American . Gene Asher . 2 February 2014 .
  5. News: 13 November 2013 . Former Falcons coach recovering from broken neck . Loran Smith, Albany Herald . 2 February 2014 .
  6. Web site: Ex-Eagles player and coach Campbell dies at 87. 18 July 2016.