Harland Svare facts for kids
| No. 65, 76, 84 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 15, 1930 Clarkfield, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died: | April 4, 2020 (aged 89) Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 214 lb (97 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | North Kitsap (WA) |
| College: | Washington State |
| NFL Draft: | 1953 / Round: 17 / Pick: 204 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 21–48 (.304) |
| Player stats at PFR | |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Harland James Svare (born November 25, 1930 – died April 4, 2020) was an American football star. He was a player, a coach, and a general manager. Harland Svare played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for eight seasons, from 1953 to 1960. His teams were the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants.
Later, Svare became a head coach. He coached the Rams from 1962 to 1965. He also coached the San Diego Chargers from 1971 to 1973. After coaching, he worked as the general manager for the Chargers from 1971 to 1976.
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Playing Career: A Strong Linebacker
Harland Svare was a tough player. He played as a linebacker. This position is important in football. Linebackers help stop the other team from scoring. They also help defend against passes.
Svare started his NFL career in 1953. He played for the Los Angeles Rams for two seasons. Then, he joined the New York Giants. He played with the Giants from 1955 to 1960. His time as a player ended in 1960.
Coaching Days: Leading the Teams
After playing, Harland Svare became a coach. He started as a defensive coordinator. This means he helped plan how the team would stop opponents. He worked for the New York Giants in 1960 and 1961.
Coaching the Los Angeles Rams
In 1962, Svare became the head coach for the Los Angeles Rams. He took over partway through the season. He coached the Rams until the end of the 1965 season. His time with the Rams helped him gain experience as a head coach.
Coaching the San Diego Chargers
Svare later coached the San Diego Chargers. He was their head coach from 1971 to 1973. During a game in 1972, the Chargers' owner gave Svare a new five-year contract. This was a big deal. However, Svare decided to step down from coaching during the next season in 1973.
General Manager Role
Besides coaching, Harland Svare also worked as a general manager. He held this role for the San Diego Chargers. As a general manager, he helped manage the team. This included making decisions about players and the team's future. He was the general manager from 1971 to 1976.
