Joe Spencer

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
20 123-164-2 42.91% 3-2 60.00%

Biography

Career Summary

Joe Spencer was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1961 to 1985, finishing his career as the quality control coach of the New Orleans Saints. Over his twenty years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 123-164-2.

Personal Information

Spencer was born on Wednesday, August 15, 1923 in Elk City, Oklahoma. He died on Thursday, October 24, 1996 at the age of 73.

Table of Contents

Playing Career

Oklahoma State University

Joe Spencer played his college football at Oklahoma State University, with his career interrupted by his World War II service. Playing for the Cowboys in 1942, 1946, and 1947, Spencer was a standout lineman and played in the East-West Shrine game at the conclusion of his playing career.

During his military career, he was a player-coach for the 2nd Armored Division football team that won the 1945 European Service championship.

Brooklyn Dodgers

At the conclusion of his college career, Spencer had a brief professional playing career, starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948, the final season of the franchise.

Coaching Career

College Coaching Career

Austin College

Professional Coaching Career

Houston Oilers

In 1961, Spencer was hired by the Houston Oilers as their offensive line coach under head coach Lou Rymkus. Despite winning the AFL championship the season before, the Oilers got off to a slow start and Rymkus was fired after a 1-3-1 beginning to the season. Replacing Rymkus was Wally Lemm, and the Oilers finished the season on a nine game winning streak. In 1962, Pop Ivy replaced Rymkus as the head coach. The Oilers made their third consecutive appearance in the AFL Championship, this time losing to the Dallas Texans.

After the 1962 season, the Oilers struggled through three straight losing seasons as they replaced the head coach after each of the seasons, changing from Pop Ivy (1963), to Sammy Baugh (1964), to Hugh Taylor (1965). After the 1965 season, Spencer left the Oilers.

Edmonton Eskimos

Beginning in 1966, Spencer spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos as their line coach, finishing third both seasons under head coach Neill Armstrong.

New York Jets

After his two-year stay in the CFL, Spencer returned to the NFL as the offensive line coach for the New York Jets, stretching from 1968-1970. During this time, the Jets, under the direction of head coach Weeb Ewbank, won Super Bowl III if 1968, the first AFL team to win the Super Bowl.

St. Louis Cardinals

After his successful three year stint with the Jets, Spencer took the offensive line coaching position with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. The Cardinals had an unsuccessful season under new head coach Bob Hollway, going 4-9-1.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
1985 New Orleans Saints Quality Control Coach 5-11-0 0-0
1984 New Orleans Saints Quality Control Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1983 New Orleans Saints Quality Control Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1982 New Orleans Saints Offensive Line Coach 4-5-0 0-0
1981 New Orleans Saints Offensive Line Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1980 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1979 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1978 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1977 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 2-12-0 0-0
1976 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 5-9-0 0-0
1975 Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line Coach 5-9-0 0-0
1971 St. Louis Cardinals Offensive Line Coach 4-9-1 0-0
1970 New York Jets Offensive Line Coach 4-10-0 0-0
1969 New York Jets Offensive Line Coach 10-4-0 0-1
1968 New York Jets Offensive Line Coach 11-3-0 2-0
1965 Houston Oilers Offensive Line Coach / Defensive Line Coach 4-10-0 0-0
1964 Houston Oilers Offensive Line Coach 4-10-0 0-0
1963 Houston Oilers Offensive Line Coach 6-8-0 0-0
1962 Houston Oilers Offensive Line Coach / Line Coach 11-3-0 0-1
1961 Houston Oilers Offensive Line Coach / Line Coach 10-3-1 1-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts