Bob Zeman facts for kids
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| Position: | Defensive back | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | February 22, 1937 Geneva, Illinois |
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| Died: | May 3, 2019 (aged 82) | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Wheaton (IL) | ||
| College: | Wisconsin | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1959 / Round: 10 / Pick: 119 | ||
| AFL draft: | 1960 / Round: 2 Pick: 1 (by the Los Angeles Chargers) | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||
Edward Robert Zeman (born February 22, 1937 – died May 3, 2019) was a talented American football player. He played as a defensive back for six seasons in the American Football League (AFL). After his playing days, he became a successful coach. He even helped teams win two Super Bowls!
Contents
Playing Career
Early Football Days
Bob Zeman grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. He went to Wheaton Warrenville South High School. This was the same hometown as the famous football player Red Grange. Zeman was originally a running back, just like Grange. He even broke some of Grange's high school records! Later, Zeman was honored by being added to his high school's Hall of Fame.
College Football at Wisconsin
Zeman played college football at the University of Wisconsin. He played on both offense and defense for the Badgers. While he didn't gain many rushing yards, he was a strong defensive player. In his final year, he played in the famous Rose Bowl. After this game, he met with football executives in Los Angeles.
Joining the Chargers
In 1960, the Los Angeles Chargers picked Zeman in the first-ever AFL draft. He became part of an amazing defense. This group was so good, they were called the "Seven Pirates." In the 1961 season, this defense set an AFL record. They intercepted the ball from opposing teams 49 times!
Time with the Denver Broncos
After playing for the Chargers, Zeman joined the Denver Broncos. In his first year with the Broncos, he had a fantastic season. He made six interceptions and even scored a touchdown! Because of his great play, he was chosen as an AFL All-Star in 1962.
Back with the Chargers
Zeman later returned to play for the San Diego Chargers. However, his playing career ended after the 1966 season. He injured his knee while tackling another player. After that injury, he did not play professional football again.
Coaching Career
Coaching in College
A few years after he stopped playing, Zeman began coaching. His first coaching job was at Northwestern. There, he coached defensive backs in 1968 and 1969. In 1970, he went back to his old college, Wisconsin, to coach.
Coaching in the Pros
Bob Zeman then moved on to coach in the professional league. He coached for the Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1977. During this time, the Raiders won Super Bowl XI! After that, he coached for the Denver Broncos, a team he had played for. He was with them from 1978 to 1982.
In 1983, he became the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills. This meant he was in charge of the team's entire defense. He also coached for the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. With the 49ers, he helped them win Super Bowl XXIV. He also worked as a scout, helping teams find new players.
Legacy
In 2017, Bob Zeman was part of a special event. He and other players from the very first Chargers team gave the organization a signed football. This was to mark the team's move back to Los Angeles.
See also
- List of American Football League players
