| Date of birth: | September 22, 1925 |
| Place of birth: | Michigan City, Indiana |
| Date of death: | September 23, 1997 (aged 72) |
| Place of death: | Belleair, Florida |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Guard |
| College: | Purdue |
| NFL Draft: | 1949 / Round: 6 / Pick: 55 (By the New York Giants) |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1949 1950-1956 1956-1957 1958-1959 |
Buffalo Bills (AAFC Cleveland Browns Philadelphia Eagles Chicago Bears |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 4 |
| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
Abraham Gibron (September 22, 1925 – September 23, 1997) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Chicago Bears. He also played in the All-America Football Conference for the Buffalo Bills.
Gibron graduated from Elston High School in Michigan City, Indiana, attended Valparaiso University, and played college football at Purdue University. It was at Purdue that he met John McKay, with whom he would later work on the Buccaneers staff.[1] He was drafted in the first round of the secret AAFC draft in 1949 by the Buffalo Bills. He was also drafted in the sixth round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, but chose to play with the Bills. After the league's merger with the National Football League, the players from the defunct teams went into a pool, from which Gibron was selected by the Cleveland Browns. Gibron played for the Browns for seven seasons. In six of those campaigns, the Browns played in the NFL Championship game, winning three times. Individually, he was selected to four Pro Bowls, and was named All-Pro from 1952-1954.[1] In 1957, Gibron was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, then moved on the following year to play two seasons with the Chicago Bears. He ultimately played in 115 games over 11 seasons.[2][3]
From 1961-1964, he served as an assistant coach with the Washington Redskins, then went back to Chicago in a similar capacity for the Bears from 1965-1971. When head coach Jim Dooley was dismissed, Gibron was elevated to the top slot on January 27, 1972. In his three seasons, the Bears compiled an 11-30-1 record, resulting in Gibron's dismissal two days after the team's final game of the 1974 NFL season.
In one game during the 1973 season, NFL Films put a microphone on Gibron during a game in Denver. Gibron was seen singing Joy to the World when the band was playing it.
Gibron stayed in Chicago in 1975, serving as head coach of the World Football League's Chicago Winds. After the league folded in October of that year, Gibron resurfaced the following year as an assistant with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he served for nine seasons.[2]
He was a noted lover of food. Then-rookie Buccaneer Charley Hannah said after dining with him, "He was eating things we wouldn't even go swimming with in Alabama".[4]
In December 1996 and February 1997, Gibron suffered strokes that confined him to his home for the remainder of his life.[5]
External links
References
- ^ a b Crussell, Bud. "Gibron Asks For Time To Build Winner". Ocala Star-Banner. 4 Oct 1977
- ^ a b Carroll, Robert N. "Bob". in Biographical Dictionary of American Sports. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995. p.431
- ^ Frostino, Nino. "Right on the Numbers". Trafford Publishing, 2004. p. 212
- ^ Boyle, Robert H., ed. "They Said It". Sports Illustrated. 5 Sep 1977
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/25/sports/abe-gibron-72-nfl-coach-wit-and-a-lover-of-good-food.html
| Preceded by Jimmy Carr |
Chicago Bears Defensive Coordinators 1970-1971 |
Succeeded by Bill George |
| Preceded by Jim Dooley |
Chicago Bears Head Coaches 1972–1974 |
Succeeded by Jack Pardee |
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