Fritz Shurmur

Over the course of his 45-year coaching career, Fritz Shurmur was regarded as one of the top defensive coaches in the game. The defensive units he coached, college and professional, were characterized by their tenaciousness, as well as by their physical and intelligent play. They were described as intense, the major characteristic used to describe their coach, both on and off the field.
    Fritz, who coached in the NFL for 24 seasons, was a firm believer in the potential for greatness that is possible when people work hard together. His coaching philosophy was built on a strong commitment to the team, its goals, and its objectives. He believed that, without exception, the most successful teams have always been those who placed a strong emphasis on “the team.”
    Shurmur’s coaching career started in 1954, as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Albion College in Albion, Michigan. He served in the role for two seasons, before accepting the defensive coordinator’s position for the Britons, a responsibility he held for six seasons (1956 to 1961).
    In 1962, Fritz accepted a job on the University of Wyoming’s staff as a defensive coach. He served in that capacity until he was promoted in 1971 to be the head coach of the Cowboys, a role he had for four seasons. During his tenure at Wyoming, the Cowboys twice led the nation in rushing defense and once in total defense.
    His stellar coaching career in the NFL began in 1975. For the next 19 seasons (1975 to 1993), he coached in the NFL for a variety of teams, including the Detroit Lions, the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Phoenix Cardinals. In 1994, Fritz’s status as a coaching icon in the NFL accelerated, when he accepted the position of defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Three seasons later, his defense played a significant role in the Packers winning Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, over the New England Patriots.
    At every stop of his exceptional coaching career, Shurmur was renowned for having an innovative mind on defense. His impact on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the game itself, was profound and has been and will continue to be highly regarded in the coaching community. Almost two decades after his death in August of 1999, he remains one of the most respected individuals to ever coach the game—at any competitive level.