Throwback Thursday: What About Weeb?

It sounds wrong to consider a Hall of Famer unappreciated. Their presence in Canton is a decent indication of appreciation. Its just that I have always felt that Wilbur "Weeb" Ewbank is often overlooked when people consider the great coaches in league history. Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick are always mentioned. From an earlier era, George Halas, Paul Brown and Curly Lambeau always enter the conversation. What about Weeb?

Weeb Ewbank was a college teammate of Paul Brown at Miami University in Ohio. A few year later they reunited as coaches at Great Lakes Naval Station during World War II. It wouldn't be the last time. After the war Ewbank became the backfield coach at Brown University. His quarterback there was Joe Paterno. In 1949, Ewbank went from Brown to the Browns. Knowing coaching talent when he saw it, Paul Brown brought his former teammate to Cleveland. In 1952, Brown recommended Ewbank to Baltimore Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom. As head coach of the Colts, Ewbank took a team in complete disarray and systematically built a champion. He would do the same thing a decade later with the New York Jets. With both teams, Ewbank quickly got hold of a dynamic quarterback. In Baltimore he had John Unitas. In New York he had Joe Namath. Ewbank built teams that could move the ball with the run or the pass. He built teams with solid defenses.

Weeb Ewbank built and coached teams that won championships. He did it once then turned around and did it again with a different team. Not only did he win three titles, two with the Colts and one with the Jets, he was the winning coach in two of the most significant championship games in league history. The 1958 Championship Game against the New York Giants started football's explosion in popularity. Many consider it the greatest game ever played. The New York Jets upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III changed NFL perceptions. AFL teams could compete. The NFL was not alone in the football world. Its remarkable that Weeb Ewbank was a central figure in both iconic games. He's the only coach to win a title with two different teams. He's the only coach to win an NFL title and an AFL title. Weeb Ewbank was one of the best. Next time people discuss the best coaches in league history, be sure to ask "What about Weeb?"