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American football player and coach (1921?2010)
American football player
John Puckett North
(June 17, 1921 ? July 6, 2010)
[1]
was an
American football
player and coach. He played
offensive
and
defensive end
in the
National Football League
(NFL) for the
Baltimore Colts
, as well as for the
Baltimore Colts
of the
All-America Football Conference
(AAFC). He played
college football
at
Vanderbilt University
and was
drafted
in the sixth round of the
1945 NFL draft
by the
Washington Redskins
.
A native of Gilliam, North grew up in Old Hickory, Tenn. He lettered in football, basketball and track at Castle Heights High School in Tennessee. He is a member of the Castle Heights Hall of Fame.
After receiving several offers, he signed with Vanderbilt, where he played football and basketball and ran track in 1942. But after his freshman year, he enlisted in the Marines to fight in World War II at the age of 17. He achieved the rank of sergeant, but was wounded on the Island of Tinian, having been shot multiple times in both calves, and was rushed to medical care. His parents were told that he had died, and upon discovering he was alive but injured, inquired about his condition. The doctors said he would never walk again. This proved only to hold true for about a year. He had begun walking around the hospital on his hands in his free time, and pushed himself hard in physical therapy, that he soon regained his strength. He was awarded a Purple Heart.
After his playing career, North moved into coaching. He was a high school coach in Alabama, then in college at
Tennessee Tech
,
Kentucky
, and
LSU
before moving into the professional ranks with the
Detroit Lions
. In 1973, he became offensive coordinator of
New Orleans Saints
.
[2]
With two games remaining in the 1973 preseason, head coach
J.D. Roberts
was fired and North was chosen to replace him. In his first regular season game, the Saints were embarrassed at
Tulane Stadium
by the rival
Atlanta Falcons
62?7. New Orleans went 5?9 in both 1973 and 1974, the team's final seasons at Tulane Stadium. North led the Saints into the
Louisiana Superdome
in 1975, but was fired on October 27 following a 38?14 loss to the
Los Angeles Rams
which left the team 1?5. He subsequently spent seven years as an assistant coach for the
Atlanta Falcons
and one season as quarterback coach for the
USFL
New Orleans Breakers
.
[1]
References
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