Introduction
Theodore Joseph "Ted" Marchibroda (March 15, 1931 – January 16, 2016) was an American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League.
Playing career
Marchibroda played college football at Saint Bonaventure University and the University of Detroit, where he excelled as a quarterback, leading the nation with 1,813 yards passing in 1952.
Marchibroda was selected in the first round of 1953 NFL Draft by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, the fifth overall pick and the first quarterback. After one year, he left the Steelers to serve in the U.S. Army, and returned to the Steelers after his discharge. Marchibroda finished his professional playing career with the Chicago Cardinals in 1957.
Coaching career
Marchibroda began his coaching career in 1961 as an assistant for the Washington Redskins under Bill McPeak before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 1966 under first-year head coach George Allen. He went with Allen to the Redskins in 1971 and was the offensive coordinator.
Marchibroda got his first head coaching job with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. In his first year, he turned the Colts into an instant playoff contender as they won the AFC East title. The Colts won the AFC East title the next two seasons, led by 1976 NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback Bert Jones and sensational running back Lydell Mitchell. But in those three playoff seasons, the Colts would lose in the AFC Divisional Playoffs including a 37–31 loss in double overtime to the Oakland Raiders in the 1977 postseason. Marchibroda was the Colts' head coach for five years, through the 1979 season, and then was an offensive coordinator for three NFL teams in the NFC: Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
Marchibroda served as the quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills under head coach Marv Levy from 1987 to 1991. As offensive coordinator for the Bills, he was influential in the evolution of the hurry-up offense. Levy, Marchibroda and quarterback Jim Kelly used their version of the hurry-up offense, the "K-Gun" offense, more than any previous offense. Kelly would hurry to the line of scrimmage, preventing the defense from making substitutions, and called audibles at the line. The NFL later imposed a rule that allowed time for defense substitutions if the offense made substitutions, except after the two-minute warning of either half.
In 1992, Marchibroda returned to the Colts, now in Indianapolis, for a second stint as head coach. He was fired by the Colts after the 1995 season. From 1996 to 1998, he was the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, making him the only one to serve as head coach for both of Baltimore's NFL teams. He compiled a career record of 87–98–1 (.470), with a 2–4 record in the playoffs.
Broadcasting career
Marchibroda was a radio color commentator for the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2006 alongside Bob Lamey.
Death
Marchibroda died on January 16, 2016 from natural causes at his home in Weems, Virginia at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife Ann, their four children, and six grandchildren.
Accolades
- Marchibroda is a member of Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor.
- Marchibroda is a member of the University of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1983).
- Marchibroda is also a member of the St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1970).
- Marchibroda was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.
Head coaching record
NFL
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| BCO | 1975 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Divisional Game. | |
| BCO | 1976 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Divisional Game. | |
| BCO | 1977 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Oakland Raiders in AFC Divisional Game. | |
| BCO | 1978 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | – | – | – | – | |
| BCO | 1979 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | – | – | – | – | |
| BCO Total | 41 | 33 | 0 | .554 | 0 | 3 | .000 | – | ||
| IND | 1992 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | – | – | – | – | |
| IND | 1993 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | |
| IND | 1994 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | – | – | – | – | |
| IND | 1995 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Conference Championship Game. | |
| IND Total | 30 | 34 | 0 | .469 | 2 | 1 | .667 | – | ||
| BRV | 1996 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | |
| BRV | 1997 | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | – | – | – | – | |
| BRV | 1998 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | – | – | – | – | |
| BRV Total | 16 | 31 | 1 | .344 | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 87 | 98 | 1 | .470 | 2 | 4 | .333 | – | ||
Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Ted Marchibroda served:
- Bill McPeak: Washington Redskins (1961–1965)
- George Allen: Los Angeles Rams (1966–1970), Washington Redskins (1971–1974)
- Neill Armstrong: Chicago Bears (1981)
- Monte Clark: Detroit Lions (1982–1983)
- Marion Campbell: Philadelphia Eagles (1984–1985)
- Marv Levy: Buffalo Bills (1987–1991)
Assistant coaches under Ted Marchibroda who became NFL or college head coaches:
- Bill Belichick: Cleveland Browns (1991–95), New England Patriots (2000–present)
- Kirk Ferentz: Iowa (1999–present)
- Pat Hill: Fresno State (1997–2011)
- Lindy Infante: Indianapolis Colts (1996–1997)
- Marvin Lewis: Cincinnati Bengals (2003–present)
- Eric Mangini: New York Jets (2006–2008), Cleveland Browns (2009–2010)
- Jim Schwartz: Detroit Lions (2009–2013)
- Vince Tobin: Arizona Cardinals (1996–2000)
- Ken Whisenhunt: Arizona Cardinals (2007–2012), Tennessee Titans (2014–2015)