College coaches who successfully made the leap to the NFL
Urban Meyer is the latest college coach to attempt an NFL replication of his previous success. He would not be the first one. The Pro Football Hall of Fame features a few college leaders who made the leap, and the NFL has seen others succeed as well. Here are the top coaches who transitioned from the college ranks.
on a makeshift 60-yard field inside due to weather — the following year, the Spartans became the Lions. Potsy and Hall of Famer Dutch Clark led the Lions to their first title in 1935, when the team routed the Giants. Potsy Clark went 64-42-12 in 10 pro seasons.
helped spoil a Pats divisional-round upset over the Raiders, but they returned to the playoffs two seasons later. The 1978 Patriots set a team rushing record that lasted until Lamar Jackson’s MVP year, but Fairbanks (46-39 in the NFL) committed to coach Colorado late that season. That resulted in a Week 16 suspension and legal squabble between the Pats and the then-Big 8 school.
three straight championship-game berths. Some bad breaks — Kyle Williams’ fumbles, Super Bowl XLVII’s pass interference no-call — denied the 49ers, and Harbaugh fell out of favor with team brass. But his four-year stay marked the team’s 21st-century apex.
first a rather famous game. Howell’s .663 win percentage is the highest in Giants history. He is not in the Hall of Fame.
in a legendary blizzard. Neale (63-43-5) also became a Canton inductee.
made six playoff berths in Robinson’s nine seasons and won four postseason games.
Sam Robinson is a Kansas City, Mo.-based writer who mostly writes about the NFL. He has covered sports for nearly 10 years. Boxing, the Royals and Pandora stations featuring female rock protagonists are some of his go-tos. Occasionally interesting tweets @SRobinson25.
