Marion Campbell, the only man to serve two stints as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, died last week in Plano, Texas, it was announced late Sunday. He was 87.
Campbell was a three-time All-SEC pick at Georgia from 1949-51 and played eight seasons in the NFL as one of the last two-way players before beginning his coaching career. Campbell served as Falcons head coach (1974-76, 1987-89) and returned to Georgia as defensive coordinator for one season under Ray Goff in 1993.
Here’s what his former defensive end Claude Humphrey had to say about him during his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2014:
CLAUDE HUMPHREY, Falcons Hall of Famer
(From his Hall of Fame Induction speech on August 2, 2014 in Canton, Ohio.)
“My second year in Atlanta we got a new coach, and his name was Marion Campbell. Ladies and gentlemen, one of the finest men to ever walk on this earth. Marion Campbell took me under his wings and he told me, now, Claude, let me tell you something, you were rookie of the year all right. You had a good season, but, Son, those people at home studied and next year it won’t be the same. You won’t be running around blocking.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
“So he had coached the fearsome foursome. He had coached David Jones and Marilyn Olsen. And he remembered a lot of their techniques. So he began to teach them to me. It wasn’t hard because he was a good teacher. I caught on very quickly. That’s why I ended up making all pro the next year and going to the Pro Bowl because of Coach Marion Campbell.”
2016 TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
Here’s a closer look at the training camp schedule:
July
27 – Wednesday, team reports for camp.
28 - Thursday, practice open to public, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
29 – Friday, public practice, 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
30 – Saturday, public practice, 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
31 – Sunday, public practice, 10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
August
1 - Monday, no practice.
2 - Tuesday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
3 – Wednesday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
4 – Thursday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
5 - Friday, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Grayson High School
6 - Saturday, players off.
7 – Sunday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
8- Monday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
9 - Tuesday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
10 - Wednesday, public practice 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
11 – Thursday vs. Washington 7 p.m. (Georgia Dome).
12 – Friday, closed practice.
13 - Saturday, players off.
14 – Sunday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
15 – Monday, public practice, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
16 – Tuesday, public practice: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
PROJECT PASS RUSH
Dan Quinn pressing all buttons to create a pass rush
LB coach Jeff Ulbrich: 'Cream will rise' at linebacker for Falcons
Defensive coordinator Richard Smith pleased with early progress of the defense
Falcons still have a spot for DT Jonathan Babineaux
Dwight Freeney 95 percent certain that he will play in 2016
Falcons working 80 percent of time on pass rush
Weatherspoon on Freeney: 'He still has it'
90-MAN ROSTER ANALYSIS -- POSITION BY POSITION
OFFENSE
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Quarterbacks
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Running backs
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Wide receivers
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Tight ends
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Offensive line
DEFENSE
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Defensive line
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Linebackers
Atlanta Falcons 90-man roster analysis: Defensive backs
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