Marv Levy

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
20 163-146-1 52.74% 11-8 57.89%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Jerry Williams

Children:

Frank Gansz, Bobby Ross, Rod Rust


Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Marv Levy was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 2007, finishing his career as the general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Over his twenty years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 163-146-1. During his career he was a head coach for sixteen seasons, first with the Kansas City Chiefs. He led the Chiefs for five seasons, compiling a record of 31-42-0. He was fired from the Chiefs on Tuesday, January 4, 1983. Levy was fired after the strike-shortened season, his first Chiefs season where the team did not improve on their previous season. His next head coaching stint was with the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1997, as he led the team to a 110-65-0 record. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 141-107-0 across sixteen seasons including going 11-8-0 in the playoffs.

Levy was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001 after his coaching career.

Career Awards

As the head coach of the Buffalo Bills he coached four players to award-winning seasons: Shane Conlan, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1987; Bruce Smith, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1990; Thurman Thomas, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1991; Thurman Thomas, Most Valuable Player in 1991; Bryce Paup, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1995; Bruce Smith, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1996.

Marv Levy Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Levy served as an assistant coach for Jerry Williams and Hank Bullough. During this time, he coached for one year for Jerry Williams and Hank Bullough. During his time as head coach, three assistant coaches, (Bobby Ross, Rod Rust, and Frank Gansz) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 87-103-1 in the regular season and 3-5 in the playoffs during their twelve seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.

Personal Information

Levy was born on Monday, August 3, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2007 Buffalo Bills General Manager 7-9-0 0-0
2006 Buffalo Bills General Manager 7-9-0 0-0
1997 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1996 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 10-6-0 0-1
1995 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 10-6-0 1-1
1994 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1993 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 12-4-0 2-1
1992 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 11-5-0 3-1
1991 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 13-3-0 2-1
1990 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 13-3-0 2-1
1989 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 9-7-0 0-1
1988 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 12-4-0 1-1
1987 Buffalo Bills Head Coach 7-8-0 0-0
1986 Buffalo Bills Interim Head Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1982 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 3-6-0 0-0
1981 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 9-7-0 0-0
1980 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1979 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1978 Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1969 Philadelphia Eagles Assistant Coach 4-9-1 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts

  • Years as head coach: 16
  • Named the interim head coach during the 1986 season for the Buffalo Bills
  • Conference Championships won: 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993
  • First in total wins for the Buffalo Bills.
  • Fifth in total wins for the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Third in winning percentage for the Buffalo Bills.
  • Most playoff wins in Buffalo Bills history (11)
  • Past teams coached for: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles
  • College Attended: Coe Kohawks
  • Date of Birth: Monday, August 3, 1925 (98 years old), Chicago, Illinois
  • Marv Levy is the oldest head coach in Super Bowl history (68 years old)