Paddy Driscoll
Encyclopedia
John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll (January 11, 1896 – June 29, 1968) was a professional American football
quarterback
. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
. In 1974, he was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
during the decade of the 1920s. He was particularly known for his drop kick
s and punting. In 1924, he recorded a 55 yard drop-kicked field goal and in 1925 holds a tied NFL record (with Al Bloodgood
) of 4 drop-kicked field goals in a single game.
After attending Northwestern University
, he played the 1919 season with the Hammond Pros
(pre-NFL). From 1920-1925, he led the Chicago Cardinals
and was also head coach from 1920 to 1922.
In 1926, prompted by a fear that he would sign with the new AFL then being formed, the Cardinals traded him to the Chicago Bears
where he continued to carry his team until he retired after the 1929 season. Later, he was head coach of the Bears for two seasons (1956 and 1957), compiling a record of 14-10-1.
Driscoll also had a brief major league baseball career, playing 13 games for the Chicago Cubs
in 1917.
Driscoll died June 29, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 73.
located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1937 until 1940. His coaching record at Marquette was 10 wins, 23 losses, and 1 tie. Since Marquette has discontinued its football program, this ranks him seventh at Marquette in total wins and 17th at Marquette in winning percentage (.309).
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
NFL 1920s All-Decade Team
This is a list of all NFL players who had outstanding performances throughout the 1920s and have been compiled onto this fantasy group. The team was selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.- External links :*...
. In 1974, he was also 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...
.
Playing career
At 5' 11" and 160 pounds, he was not big, but he made a big impact on American footballAmerican 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...
during the decade of the 1920s. He was particularly known for his drop kick
Drop kick
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....
s and punting. In 1924, he recorded a 55 yard drop-kicked field goal and in 1925 holds a tied NFL record (with Al Bloodgood
Elbert Bloodgood
Elbert "Al" Lorraine Bloodgood was a professional American football player in the National Football League . He played at the University of Nebraska. He graduated from Nebraska in 1924...
) of 4 drop-kicked field goals in a single game.
After attending Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, he played the 1919 season with the Hammond Pros
Hammond Pros
The Hammond Pros from Hammond, Indiana played in the National Football League from 1920 to 1926 as a traveling team.-History:The Pros were established by Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young who was a boxing promoter, owner of a racing stable and a doctor and trainer for a semi-pro football team...
(pre-NFL). From 1920-1925, he led the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and was also head coach from 1920 to 1922.
In 1926, prompted by a fear that he would sign with the new AFL then being formed, the Cardinals traded him to 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...
where he continued to carry his team until he retired after the 1929 season. Later, he was head coach of the Bears for two seasons (1956 and 1957), compiling a record of 14-10-1.
Driscoll also had a brief major league baseball career, playing 13 games for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1917.
Driscoll died June 29, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 73.
Coaching career
Driscoll was the 14th head football coach for the Marquette University Golden EaglesMarquette Golden Eagles
The Marquette Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Marquette University....
located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1937 until 1940. His coaching record at Marquette was 10 wins, 23 losses, and 1 tie. Since Marquette has discontinued its football program, this ranks him seventh at Marquette in total wins and 17th at Marquette in winning percentage (.309).