Howard Mudd facts for kids
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| Position: | Offensive guard | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 10, 1942 Midland, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Died: | August 12, 2020 (aged 78) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 254 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Midland (Midland, Michigan) | ||||||||
| College: | Hillsdale | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1964 / Round: 9 / Pick: 113 | ||||||||
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Howard Edward Mudd (born February 10, 1942 – died August 12, 2020) was an American football player and coach. He was known for being a great offensive lineman, a player who blocks for the quarterback. Later, he became one of the best offensive line coaches in the National Football League (NFL).
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Who Was Howard Mudd?
Howard Mudd was born in Midland, Michigan. He went to Midland High School. After high school, he played college football for Hillsdale College. He was a team captain there. His great playing earned him a spot in the NAIA Hall of Fame.
His Time as a Player
Mudd played seven seasons in the NFL. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1964 to 1969. Then he joined the Chicago Bears for the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
He was a very talented player. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. The Pro Bowl is like an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. He retired from playing in 1971 because of a knee injury.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career ended, Howard Mudd started coaching. He first coached at the University of California for two years. Then he moved to the NFL. He coached for several teams between 1974 and 1997. These teams included the San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs.
Winning with the Colts
In 1998, Mudd joined the Indianapolis Colts as their offensive line coach. He stayed with the Colts for 12 years, until 2009. During his time there, the Colts' offensive line was amazing. They protected their quarterback, Peyton Manning, very well. This helped Manning become one of the best quarterbacks ever.
With Howard Mudd as their coach, the Colts won Super Bowl XLI. This is the biggest championship game in American football. Mudd was also given a special award for his great work as a coach.
Later Coaching Roles
Howard Mudd tried to retire from coaching in 2009. But he loved the game too much! He returned to the Colts for a short time. He also coached for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and 2012. With the Eagles, his coaching helped the team allow fewer sacks than before. This meant their quarterback was better protected.
In 2019, he briefly returned to the Indianapolis Colts as a senior offensive assistant. He stepped down from that role later the same year.
Remembering Howard Mudd
Howard Mudd passed away on August 12, 2020. He was 78 years old. He died from injuries he got in a motorcycle accident. The owner of the Colts, Jim Irsay, said that Howard Mudd was a "GREAT player" and "one of the game's all-time greatest offensive line coaches." He will always be remembered for his impact on football.
