Guy Chamberlin
Encyclopedia
Berlin Guy "Champ" Chamberlin (January 16, 1894 – April 4, 1967) was a professional American football
player and coach in the National Football League
(NFL). He played at Nebraska Wesleyan University
and then at the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity. He graduated from Nebraska in 1916. Originally a halfback, in 1915 he moved to end and was named All-America
n end. He served in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919. He served as player-coach on four NFL title teams: 1922 and 1923 Canton Bulldogs
, 1924 Cleveland Bulldogs
, and 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets
.
In 1925, Chamberlin became player-coach of the NFL Frankford Yellow Jackets
, who finished only sixth that year, with a record of 13-7. In 1926, the Yellow Jackets went 14-1-1 to win the NFL Championship, Chamberlin's fourth in five seasons of coaching.
The following year, he went to the Chicago Cardinals as a player for one season, then became the team's coach in 1928, after which he retired when the Cardinals managed only one win against six losses. His career NFL coaching record was 56 wins, 14 losses, and 5 ties.
Chamberlin returned to Blue Springs in 1932, where he became a farmer, state livestock inspector, and businessman. A well-known authority on football, he became a public speaker and radio broadcaster.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1962 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1965.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He played at Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational university located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was founded in 1887 by Nebraska Methodists. As of 2007, it has 1,600 full-time students and 300 faculty and staff. The school teaches in the tradition of a liberal arts college education....
and then at the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity. He graduated from Nebraska in 1916. Originally a halfback, in 1915 he moved to end and was named All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n end. He served in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919. He served as player-coach on four NFL title teams: 1922 and 1923 Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
, 1924 Cleveland Bulldogs
Cleveland Bulldogs
The Cleveland Bulldogs was a team that played in Cleveland, Ohio in the National Football League. They were originally called the Indians in 1923, not to be confused with the Cleveland Indians NFL franchise in 1922...
, and 1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets
Frankford Yellow Jackets
The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926...
.
In 1925, Chamberlin became player-coach of the NFL Frankford Yellow Jackets
Frankford Yellow Jackets
The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926...
, who finished only sixth that year, with a record of 13-7. In 1926, the Yellow Jackets went 14-1-1 to win the NFL Championship, Chamberlin's fourth in five seasons of coaching.
The following year, he went to the Chicago Cardinals as a player for one season, then became the team's coach in 1928, after which he retired when the Cardinals managed only one win against six losses. His career NFL coaching record was 56 wins, 14 losses, and 5 ties.
Chamberlin returned to Blue Springs in 1932, where he became a farmer, state livestock inspector, and businessman. A well-known authority on football, he became a public speaker and radio broadcaster.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1962 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1965.