Bobby Beathard facts for kids
Beathard in 2018
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| No. 15 | |
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| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 24, 1937 Zanesville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died: | January 30, 2023 (aged 86) Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | El Segundo (El Segundo, California) |
| College: | El Camino (1955) Cal Poly (1956–1958) |
| Undrafted: | 1959 |
| Career history | |
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| As executive: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Bobby Beathard (born January 24, 1937 – died January 30, 2023) was an important person in American football. He worked as a general manager for two big teams in the National Football League (NFL). These teams were the Washington Redskins and the San Diego Chargers.
During his 38 years in the NFL, Bobby Beathard's teams won four Super Bowl championships. They also played in three other Super Bowls. He helped teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers reach these big games. In 2018, Bobby Beathard was honored by being added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Bobby Beathard's Early Life and Playing Days
Bobby Beathard was born in Zanesville, Ohio. When he was four, his family moved to El Segundo, California. He started playing football in high school as a tailback.
He went to El Camino Junior College for a year. Then, he attended Cal Poly. At Cal Poly, he played as a back-up running back. Later, he became the starting quarterback and defensive back. He helped Cal Poly have two great seasons, winning nine games and losing only one each year.
After college, Bobby Beathard tried to play professionally. He had short tryouts with two teams in 1959. However, he did not get a permanent spot. For a while, he played semi-pro football. He also worked other jobs outside of football.
Bobby Beathard's Career as a Football Executive
Bobby Beathard became a football executive. This means he worked in the front office of teams. He helped decide which players to sign and how to build the team.
Starting as a Scout
In 1963, Bobby Beathard began working for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a part-time scout. A scout finds and evaluates new players. He left for a short time but returned to the Chiefs in 1966.
From 1968 to 1971, he was a scout for the Atlanta Falcons. In 1972, he joined the Miami Dolphins. He became their director of player personnel. This job meant he was in charge of finding and managing players. The Dolphins had amazing success with him. In 1972 and 1973, they won two Super Bowls. The 1972 team had a perfect season, winning every game!
Becoming a General Manager
In 1978, Bobby Beathard became the general manager of the Washington Redskins. As general manager, he made big decisions about the team. He was very good at picking talented players in the draft. Some famous players he drafted include Art Monk and Darrell Green.
He left the Redskins in 1989. After that, he worked as a TV analyst for NFL on NBC. In 1990, he became the general manager for the San Diego Chargers. In 1994, the Chargers won the AFC Championship. This meant they played in their first-ever Super Bowl. Bobby Beathard retired from football in 2000.
Bobby Beathard's Personal Life and Hobbies
Bobby Beathard lived in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife, Christine. His younger brother, Pete Beathard, was also a football player. Pete played quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bobby Beathard's family has many talented members. One of his sons, Casey Beathard, writes country music songs. Another son, Kurt Beathard, is a football coach. His grandsons include C. J. Beathard, who is a quarterback, and Tucker Beathard, who is a singer-songwriter. Sadly, another grandson, Clayton Beathard, passed away in 2019.
Bobby Beathard was also very active. He ran in the 1984 New York City Marathon. He loved bodysurfing. From 2005 to 2009, he won first place five times in a row. This was at the World Bodysurfing Championships for men aged 65 and over.
He was honored by his college, Cal Poly Mustangs, in their Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2018, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also added to the Chargers Hall of Fame. Bobby Beathard passed away on January 30, 2023. He had been living with Alzheimer's disease.
Images for kids
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Bobby Beathard in 2018, the year he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
