Walt Michaels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Walt Michaels

Michaels on a 1952 Bowman football card
No. 35, 34
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1929-10-16)October 16, 1929 Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:	July 10, 2019(2019-07-10) (aged 89) Plains, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
College:	Washington and Lee
NFL Draft:	1951 / Round: 7 / Pick: 86
Career history
As player:
Green Bay Packers (1951) Cleveland Browns (1952–1961) New York Jets (1963)
As coach:
Oakland Raiders (1962) Defensive backs coach New York Jets (1963–1972) Defensive coordinator Philadelphia Eagles (1973–1975) Defensive coordinator New York Jets (1976) Defensive coordinator New York Jets (1977–1982) Head coach New Jersey Generals (1984–1985) Head coach Scranton Stallions (1990) Head coach
Career highlights and awards
2× NFL champion (1954-1955) 5× Pro Bowl (1955–1959) Cleveland Browns Legends
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Head coaching record
Regular season:	39–47–1 (.454)
Postseason:	2–2 (.500)
Career:	41–49–1 (.456)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Walter Edward Michaels (born Majka) was a famous American football player and coach. He lived from 1929 to 2019. Many remember him as the head coach for the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). He coached the Jets for six years, from 1977 to 1982. Walt Michaels was honored in several sports halls of fame. These include the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

Walt Michaels: Player and Coach

Early Life and College Football

Walt Michaels was born into a Polish family. His father worked as a coal miner in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. The family's original last name was Majka. It was changed to Michaels when he went to school.

Michaels was a talented athlete in high school. He played two different sports. He then went on to play college football. He was a fullback at Washington and Lee University. In 1950, he helped his team, the Generals, reach the Gator Bowl. Sadly, he could not play in the game. He had an appendicitis attack just one week before.

Starting His NFL Career

In the 1951 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns picked Michaels. He was chosen in the seventh round. But he was traded to the Green Bay Packers during training camp. In his first year with Green Bay, Michaels mostly played on special teams.

Playing for the Cleveland Browns (1952–1961)

On April 29, 1952, Michaels was traded back to the Browns. He became a very important player on their defense. He played as a linebacker for the next ten years. Michaels often helped call the defensive plays. He caught 11 passes from opposing teams. Four of these interceptions happened in 1952. He even ran two of them back for touchdowns!

During his ten years with the Browns, Michaels helped them reach five NFL Championship games. They won two of these games in a row, in 1954 and 1955.

Coaching Journey

First Coaching Job: Oakland Raiders (1962)

On April 3, 1962, Michaels started his coaching career. He was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their defensive backs coach. The Raiders were part of the American Football League. He only stayed there for one season. The team did not do well. They lost their first 13 games. They only won the last game of the season.

Assistant Coach for the New York Jets (1963–1973)

After 1962, Michaels joined the New York Jets. He became their defensive line coach. He even played as a linebacker in one game in 1963. This was because of an emergency. In 1967, his role changed. He started coaching linebackers and the secondary. He also became the "unofficial" defensive coordinator. This meant he planned the team's defensive strategies.

The Jets famously won Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts. Many thought Michaels would become the next head coach. He was seen as the person to replace Weeb Ewbank.

Coaching the Philadelphia Eagles (1973–1975)

Things changed for Michaels on February 1, 1973. Ewbank hired his son-in-law, Charley Winner. Winner was named as Ewbank's future replacement. Michaels immediately quit his job. Within two weeks, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He became their defensive coordinator. He worked under Mike McCormack, a former teammate from the Browns.

Michaels spent three average seasons in Philadelphia. McCormack and his coaching staff were let go after the 1975 NFL season. After Winner was also fired by the Jets, Michaels went back to New York. He again became the main coach for the defense. This time, he worked under new head coach Lou Holtz.

Return to the Jets (1976–1977)

Lou Holtz's time as a professional coach was not successful. He resigned before the last game of the season. On January 4, 1977, Walt Michaels was officially named the head coach of the Jets. This began six years of very different results for the team.

Head Coach of the New York Jets (1977–1983)

First Seasons (1977 & 1978)

In Michaels' first year as head coach, the Jets won only three games. But over the next two years, the team improved. They won eight games in both 1978 and 1979. The five-game improvement in 1978 was a big deal. It helped Michaels win the AFC Coach of the Year award.

A Tough Season (1979)

The 1979 season also ended with an 8–8 record. But it had a big problem with quarterbacks. The starting quarterback, Richard Todd, was benched. Matt Robinson was named the new starter.

Days before the first game, Robinson hurt his thumb. He tried to hide it, but had to tell the team. The Jets were leading 22–19 in the final quarter. Robinson took off the tape on his thumb, thinking the game was over. But the other team tied the game. In overtime, Robinson could not grip the ball well. He threw a bad pass that was intercepted. The other team then won with a field goal. Michaels never used Robinson again.

Playoff Success (1980 & 1981)

The 1980 season was tough, with only four wins and 12 losses. The 1981 season started with three straight losses. After a close 31–30 loss, Michaels had an angry press conference. His eyes were described as "glazed" and his speech "slurred." Despite this, the Jets played much better. They won ten games and made the playoffs. This was their first playoff appearance since 1969. Their season ended with a 31–27 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Reaching the AFC Title Game (1982)

The 1982 NFL season was shorter because of a player strike. The Jets finished with a 6–3 record. They then beat the Cincinnati Bengals 44–17 in the playoffs. The next week, they traveled to play the Los Angeles Raiders. The Jets pulled off a surprise 17–14 win.

They were now just one game away from Super Bowl XVII. The Jets played the Miami Dolphins on January 23, 1983. The game was at Miami's Orange Bowl. It had rained heavily, but the field was not covered. This game became known as the "Mud Bowl." The Jets lost 14–0.

Leaving the Jets

On February 10, 1983, Michaels suddenly resigned. This was just 17 days after the "Mud Bowl" loss. He said he needed a break from football. He had been under a lot of stress. He was visiting his sick mother in Pennsylvania every week.

Coaching the New Jersey Generals (1984-1985)

Michaels then coached the New Jersey Generals. This team was in the USFL. He coached them for two years, starting in 1984. After the 1985 season, Michaels and his staff were let go. This happened after the Generals merged with another team. The Generals never played another game. The USFL eventually folded.

Head Coaching Record

• Note: The 1982 season was shorter due to a player strike.

See also

• List of American Football League players