Jack Pardee Dies At Age 76

Jack Pardee, a former All-Pro linebacker and NFL coach, lost his battle with gallbladder cancer Monday according to the Washington Post. Pardee was born in Iowa but attended college at Texas A&M where he played three years of football for the Aggies and legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The 1954 college football season however, may be the most infamous in both the playing and coaching career of Pardee.

Upon his hiring in 1954, coach Paul Bryant felt many of his players did not deserve to be members of the team and were poorly conditioned. In order to be successful, Texas A&M needed to have their football camp away from the on-campus hustle and bustle. Bryant took the team to Junction, Texas where they went through a grueling 10-day training camp. As the days went on, the number of players in camp decreased so much that by the end of camp, only a handful of players remained. Jack Pardee was one of them. The players who made it through the process became affectionately known as the "Junction Boys."

An All-American while at Texas A&M, Pardee was selected with 14th overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Pardee stayed with the Rams organization until 1970 where he was an All-Pro linebacker. Before retiring in 1973, Pardee spent two seasons with the Washington Redskins, helping the team to the 1972 NFC Championship.

His first NFL coaching job came with the Chicago Bears in 1975 following a one-year stint with the Florida Blazers of the World Football League. Departing Chicago after the 1977 season, Pardee was quickly hired as head coach of the Washington Redskins where he stayed for three seasons. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1979 after leading the Redskins to a 10-6 record.

"He will be remembered not just as a linebacker for the 1972 NFC Champions, nor as just the coach for our franchise. He will be remembered as someone whose spirit truly embodied the values that we associate with the burgundy and gold," said Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

Pardee had a knack for developing quarterback talent. In 1984 as head coach of the United State Football League's Houston Gamblers, Pardee helped future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly set multiple passing records. Upon the ending of the USFL, Pardee took the head coaching job at the University of Houston where he guided an explosive Cougar offense that was centered around 1989 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Andre Ware.

For his collegiate playing and coaching success, Pardee was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986. His final NFL coaching job lasted from 1990-1994, where he led the Houston Oilers to four consecutive postseason berths before resigning in 1994.

Jack Pardee is survived by his wife of over 50 years Phyllis, their five children, and 12 grandchildren.