Ken Meyer
Encyclopedia
Ken Meyer is a former football
coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He may be best remembered as the head coach of the National Football League
's San Francisco 49ers
in 1977.
A native of Ashtabula, Ohio
, Meyer was a B-17 tail gunner with the 8th Air Force during WWII. He played quarterback at Denison University
under legendary football coach Woody Hayes
before Hayes became head coach at the Ohio State University
. Meyer set several single season and career school records, one of which still stands, and the team's record was 22-3-0 during his varsity career. He was elected to Denison's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
Meyer gained his first coaching experience as head coach at an Ohio
high school. From 1952-1957, he was an assistant at his alma mater before accepting an assistant coaching position at Wake Forest University
in 1958. After two years with the Demon Deacons, he moved on to take another assistant position, this time with the Florida State Seminoles
. While with Florida State, he recruited and coached future NFL quarterback Steve Tensi
and future Pro Football Hall of Fame
r Fred Biletnikoff
.
Following three years in that capacity, Meyer accepted an assistant's role in 1963 at the University of Alabama
under another legendary coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant. During his five years with the Crimson Tide
, he worked with the team's quarterbacks, a group which included future Pro Football Hall of Fame
r Joe Namath
, as well as Super Bowl winning signal caller Ken Stabler
. Alabama's combined record during this time was 47-6-2, including five straight Top 10 seasons, an undefeated year finishing #3 in the country plus two National Championships.
When Dick Nolan
was hired as head coach of the 49ers in 1968, he hired Meyer to tutor the team's offensive backs. After one year, Meyer departed to accept a similar role with the New York Jets
, reuniting him with Namath. Despite coming off a win in Super Bowl III
, the Jets were never able to recapture their magic during Meyer's four years with the team, with major injuries to Namath serving as a major culprit.
On February 6, 1973, Meyer left the Jets to accept the position of offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams
, reuniting him with Chuck Knox
, who had worked with him at Wake Forest. During four frustrating years, the team reached the NFC Championship game
three times, but lost on each occasion.
Meyer became an NFL head coach when the 49ers fired Monte Clark
and hired him on April 19, 1977. However, following a 5-9 record, Meyer was fired on January 10, 1978, and returned to coaching nine weeks later as the offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears
under new head coach Neill Armstrong
. The Bears reached the postseason once in Meyer's three seasons, with the veteran coach resigning on December 24, 1980.
Meyer returned to the college ranks for the next two years, serving as offensive coordinator for Tulane University
. When former mentor Chuck Knox became head coach of the Seattle Seahawks
, he hired Meyer as an assistant on February 24, 1983 where he was quarterbacks coach until his retirement after the 1991 season. He helped guide the Seahawks to the 1983 AFC Championship game and the 1988 AFC West Division Title.
The American Football Association of Finland
invited Meyer to run a quarterback clinic in 1992 and he returned to the country to coach Turku Trojans
for 1993 and the National Team of Finland for 1993-1997. Finland won the European Championship under Meyer in 1993,1995 and 1997. He also was an assistant coach with Team Finland Juniors in the 1996 European Championship tournament held in Frankfurt where Team Finland won all its games.
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...
coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He may be best remembered as the head coach of 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...
's San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 1977.
A native of Ashtabula, Ohio
Ashtabula, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,962 people, 8,435 households, and 5,423 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,775.9 people per square mile . There were 9,151 housing units at an average density of 1,211.8 per square mile...
, Meyer was a B-17 tail gunner with the 8th Air Force during WWII. He played quarterback at Denison University
Denison University
Denison University is private, coeducational, and residential college of liberal arts and sciences founded in 1831. It is located in Granville, Ohio, United States, approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, the state capital...
under legendary football coach Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes
Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Denison University , Miami University , and Ohio State University , compiling a career college football record of 238–72–10.During his 28 seasons as the head coach of the Ohio...
before Hayes became head coach at the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Meyer set several single season and career school records, one of which still stands, and the team's record was 22-3-0 during his varsity career. He was elected to Denison's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.
Meyer gained his first coaching experience as head coach at an Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
high school. From 1952-1957, he was an assistant at his alma mater before accepting an assistant coaching position at Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1958. After two years with the Demon Deacons, he moved on to take another assistant position, this time with the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
. While with Florida State, he recruited and coached future NFL quarterback Steve Tensi
Steve Tensi
Stephen Michael "Steve" Tensi is a former professional American football quarterback in the American Football League and the National Football League. He played for the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos .-See also:* Other American Football League players...
and future 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...
r Fred Biletnikoff
Fred Biletnikoff
Frederick S. "Fred" Biletnikoff is a former American football wide receiver and coach. He spent the majority of his professional playing and coaching days with the Oakland Raiders...
.
Following three years in that capacity, Meyer accepted an assistant's role in 1963 at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
under another legendary coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant. During his five years with the Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide
Crimson Tide may refer to:* Crimson tide, a type of algae also known as Karenia brevis* Alabama Crimson Tide, the sports teams of the University of Alabama* Crimson Tide , a 1995 American thriller...
, he worked with the team's quarterbacks, a group which included future 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...
r Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
, as well as Super Bowl winning signal caller Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
. Alabama's combined record during this time was 47-6-2, including five straight Top 10 seasons, an undefeated year finishing #3 in the country plus two National Championships.
When Dick Nolan
Dick Nolan (football)
Richard Charles Nolan was an American football player and head coach in the National Football League.He was the father of college and NFL coach Mike Nolan.-Playing career:...
was hired as head coach of the 49ers in 1968, he hired Meyer to tutor the team's offensive backs. After one year, Meyer departed to accept a similar role with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, reuniting him with Namath. Despite coming off a win in Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III
Super Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl". This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
, the Jets were never able to recapture their magic during Meyer's four years with the team, with major injuries to Namath serving as a major culprit.
On February 6, 1973, Meyer left the Jets to accept the position of offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, reuniting him with Chuck Knox
Chuck Knox
Charles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
, who had worked with him at Wake Forest. During four frustrating years, the team reached the NFC Championship game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
three times, but lost on each occasion.
Meyer became an NFL head coach when the 49ers fired Monte Clark
Monte Clark
Monte Dale Clark was an American football player who served as head coach for two National Football League teams: the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions.-College career:...
and hired him on April 19, 1977. However, following a 5-9 record, Meyer was fired on January 10, 1978, and returned to coaching nine weeks later as the offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
under new head coach Neill Armstrong
Neill Armstrong
Neill Ford Armstrong is a former American football player and coach whose career spanned more than 40 years at both the collegiate and professional levels....
. The Bears reached the postseason once in Meyer's three seasons, with the veteran coach resigning on December 24, 1980.
Meyer returned to the college ranks for the next two years, serving as offensive coordinator for Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. When former mentor Chuck Knox became head coach of the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, he hired Meyer as an assistant on February 24, 1983 where he was quarterbacks coach until his retirement after the 1991 season. He helped guide the Seahawks to the 1983 AFC Championship game and the 1988 AFC West Division Title.
The American Football Association of Finland
American Football Association of Finland
American Football Association of Finland is the national governing body of American football in Finland. It was founded in 1979 and it is founding member of both of European Federation of American Football, EFAF and International Federation of American Football, IFAF. Since 2000 American football...
invited Meyer to run a quarterback clinic in 1992 and he returned to the country to coach Turku Trojans
Turku Trojans
Turku Trojans is one of the oldest American Football teams in Finland, established in 1982. Turku Trojans plays in the Maple League operated by American Football Association in Finland. Finnish champions in 2003. Maple Bowl appearances in 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004....
for 1993 and the National Team of Finland for 1993-1997. Finland won the European Championship under Meyer in 1993,1995 and 1997. He also was an assistant coach with Team Finland Juniors in the 1996 European Championship tournament held in Frankfurt where Team Finland won all its games.