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Dick Vermeil saved Philadelphia Eagles soccer.
That’s not hyperbole. When Vermeil was employed previous to the 1976 season, the franchise was maybe the worst within the NFL, a laughing inventory, and had been for the higher a part of a era. Following their NFL championship over the Green Bay Packers in 1960, the Eagles went 10-4 in ‘61 after which proceeded to have a successful report simply as soon as over the following 16 seasons. They completed in final place seven occasions and gained 4 video games or fewer seven occasions.
That was the scenario Dick Vermeil walked into when he was employed away from UCLA. In his third season, the Eagles made the playoffs. In his fifth, they gained the NFC Championship and went to Super Bowl XV. And in consequence, he grew to become a legend in Philadelphia
However Philly just isn’t the one place the place Coach Vermeil is revered. After a prolonged hiatus from teaching, he returned to the NFL in 1997 and led the St. Louis Rams to a Tremendous Bowl title in his third season there, after which helmed the Kansas City Chiefs to a 44-36 report (.550) over 5 seasons earlier than retiring for good following the 2005 season.
Now, Dick Vermeil can add “Corridor of Fame” to his listing of accolades.
In seven seasons with the Eagles, Vermeil made 4 journeys to the playoffs and compiled a 54-47 report (.535). Over his 15-year profession, he went 120-109 (.524) and resurrected the fortunes of two down-and-out franchises (Eagles and Rams).
His signature season in Philadelphia was 1980. That crew went 12-4, led by a ferocious 3-4 protection, an MVP-caliber season from QB Ron Jaworski and relentless manufacturing from All Execs Wilbert Montgomery and Harold Carmichael. They gained the NFC East by incomes a tie-breaker over the Cowboys and a primary spherical bye. Within the divisional spherical, they overcame an early 14-0 deficit and crushed the Minnesota Vikings 31-16, organising an NFC Championship Sport at Veterans Stadium in opposition to their hated division rivals.
The remainder, after all, is historical past. In a dominating defensive efficiency on an ice-cold day, the Birds froze the Cowboys 20-7 and earned a visit to their first Tremendous Bowl.
After all, the story would have been superb had the Eagles discovered a approach to get previous the Oakland Raiders in Tremendous Bowl XV, however the 1980 season continues to be remembered as one of many biggest in franchise historical past. Final 12 months, I had an opportunity to speak with Coach Vermeil about that ‘80 season and his recollections of all of it.
Vermeil’s tenure with the Eagles ended after the 1983 season, citing burnout. He migrated to the published sales space the place, for 15 years, he grew to become among the finest coloration commentators on school soccer in America, teamed with the good Brent Musburger on ABC. Nonetheless, the teaching itch got here again and Vermeil returned to the NFL with the Rams in 1997. Three years later, as head coach of The Best Present on Turf, Vermeil gained his first Tremendous Bowl title.
His teaching legacy is so good that it has spawned the Dick Vermeil Cinematic Universe, the place he’s performed by Greg Kinnear within the Vince Papale biopic “Invincible” and by Dennis Quaid within the Kurt Warner movie “American Underdog.” What number of different coaches can say that?
Vermeil’s 120 head teaching wins are Thirty fifth-most in NFL historical past and he’s one in all simply seven coaches to take two completely different franchises to the Tremendous Bowl. The 19 years between these Tremendous Bowls with the Eagles and Rams is the most important hole of any coach.
Vermeil will likely be inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday, August 6.
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