Sid Gillman

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
24 181-135-7 57.12% 5-10 33.33%

Coaching Tree

Children:

George Allen, Ed Biles, Al Davis, Jack Faulkner, Richie Petitbon, Bum Phillips, Lou Rymkus, Hugh Taylor, Charlie Waller, Bob Waterfield


Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Sid Gillman was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1955 to 1982, finishing his career as the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Over his twenty-four years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 183-137-7. During his career he was a head coach for seventeen seasons, first with the Los Angeles Rams. He led the Rams for five seasons, compiling a record of 28-31-1. His next head coaching stint was with the Los Angeles Chargers from 1960 to 1971, as he led the team to a 92-56-6 record. In 1963, the Chargers won the championship against the Boston Patriots 51-10. His third head coach placement began in 1974 with the Houston Oilers. He coached them for one season and the team had a 7-7-0 record during his tenure. During his entire head coaching career, his three teams combined for a record of 127-94-7 across seventeen seasons including going 1-5-0 in the playoffs.

Gillman was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983 after his coaching career. During his career, he was recognized as one of the leading authorities on the modern passing offenses in the NFL.

Career Awards

During his time as head coach and offensive coordinator he coached two players to award-winning seasons. As the head coach for the Chargers Tobin Rote won AP AFL Player of the Year. As the offensive coordinator for the Bears Walter Payton won AP Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

Sid Gillman Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Gillman served as an assistant coach for Tom Landry, Bill Peterson, Jack Pardee, and Dick Vermeil. Four of these years were spent on Vermeil's coaching staff. During his time as head coach, ten assistant coaches, (Jack Faulkner, Bob Waterfield, George Allen, Lou Rymkus, Al Davis, Hugh Taylor, Bum Phillips, Charlie Waller, Ed Biles, and Richie Petitbon) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 282-252-14 in the regular season and 8-10 in the playoffs during their forty seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs. The coaching tree has combined for two championships, most recently in 1961 by the Houston Oilers, led by Lou Rymkus.

Personal Information

Gillman was born on Thursday, October 26, 1911 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He died on Friday, January 3, 2003 at the age of 91.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
1982 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Coach 3-6-0 0-0
1981 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Coach 10-6-0 0-1
1980 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Coach 12-4-0 2-1
1979 Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Coach 11-5-0 1-1
1977 Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator 9-5-0 0-1
1974 Houston Oilers Head Coach 7-7-0 0-0
1973 Houston Oilers Interim Head Coach 1-13-0 0-0
1972 Dallas Cowboys Special Assistant Coach 10-4-0 1-1
1971 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 4-6-0 0-0
1969 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 8-6-0 0-0
1968 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 9-5-0 0-0
1967 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 8-5-1 0-0
1966 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 7-6-1 0-0
1965 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 9-2-3 0-1
1964 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 8-5-1 0-1
1963 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 11-3-0 1-0
1962 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 4-10-0 0-0
1961 San Diego Chargers Head Coach 12-2-0 0-1
1960 Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach 10-4-0 0-1
1959 Los Angeles Rams Head Coach 2-10-0 0-0
1958 Los Angeles Rams Head Coach 8-4-0 0-0
1957 Los Angeles Rams Head Coach 6-6-0 0-0
1956 Los Angeles Rams Head Coach 4-8-0 0-0
1955 Los Angeles Rams Head Coach 8-3-1 0-1

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts

  • Sid Gillman was the first to study game film extensively.