The former NFL coach, Chuck Knox who led the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks and took the Los Angeles Rams through three NFC Championship games passed away at the age of 86. Knox died on Saturday evening after battling dementia. The Seahawks and the Rams announced the sad news on Sunday.
Also called as ‘Ground Chuck’ for his run-first offences, Knox remained the NFL head coach of the year in 1973, 1980 and 1984. He won the award for all the three teams that he coached. As an NFL head coach, Knox went in for 186-147-1 during the 22 seasons that included two stints for the Rams in the 1970s and the 1990s. Knox won five straight NFC West titles from the year 1973 to 1977. He returned to the franchise in 1992 for the final three seasons of the team in Los Angeles before it moved to St Louis.
Winner of three NFL Coach of the Year Awards, Knox earned the term ‘Knoxisms’ that his players fondly termed themselves with.
Knox left the Rams in the year 1978 and joined the Bills. After spending five seasons with the bills, Knox joined the Seahawks in the year 1983 and led the franchise to win its first playoff berth and the AFC title game.
Knox is known to be the first head coach in the NFL history to have led three different teams to the playoffs.
Lee Ann Knox, Chuck Knox’s granddaughter, confirmed the news of his passing away on Sunday by tweeting, “RIP Popster. I’ll miss you forever. You have always been my dad. You gave me more guidance, hope, encouragement than anyone ever has. I will treasure you forever. No one else will ever compare.”
He began his NFL career as a coach by joining the New York Jets as an offensive line coach.
