Paddy Driscoll

John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll (January 11, 1896 – June 29, 1968) was a professional American football quarterback. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team. In 1974, he was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Playing career

At 5' 11" and 160 pounds, he was not big, but he made a big impact on American football during the decade of the 1920s. He was particularly known for his drop kicks and punting. In 1924, he recorded a 55 yard drop-kicked field goal and in 1925 holds a tied NFL record (with Al Bloodgood) of 4 drop-kicked field goals in a single game.^[1]

After attending Northwestern University, he played the 1919 season with the Hammond Pros (pre-NFL). From 1920-1925, he led the Chicago Cardinals and was also head coach from 1920 to 1922.

In 1926, prompted by a fear that he would sign with the new AFL then being formed, the Cardinals traded him to the Chicago Bears where he continued to carry his team until he retired after the 1929 season. Later, he was head coach of the Bears for two seasons (1956 and 1957), compiling a record of 14-10-1.

Driscoll also had a brief major league baseball career, playing 13 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1917.

Driscoll died June 29, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 73.

Coaching career

Driscoll was the 14th head football coach for the Marquette University Golden Eagles located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and he held that position for four seasons, from 1937 until 1940.^[2] His coaching record at Marquette was 10 wins, 23 losses, and 1 tie. Since Marquette has discontinued its football program, this ranks him seventh at Marquette in total wins and 17th at Marquette in winning percentage (.309).^[3]

References

External links

• Football Hall of Fame
• Baseball stats