Phil Bengtson

John Phillip Bengtson (July 17, 1913 – December 18, 1994) was an American football player and coach. He was a longtime assistant coach in college football and the National Football League (NFL), chiefly remembered as the successor to Vince Lombardi as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1968.

Bengtson was a native of Roseau, Minnesota, and played tackle under Bernie Bierman at the University of Minnesota during the 1930s. In 1934, he earned All-America honors with the Golden Gophers, working in tandem with a player who went to coaching immortality: quarterback Bud Wilkinson.

Bengtson took his first assistant coaching job at the University of Missouri in 1935, but soon returned to his alma mater as line coach, staying through the 1939 season. Beginning in 1940, he moved to Stanford University, where he served as an assistant coach for 12 years. Bengtson moved to the professional level in 1952 with the nearby San Francisco 49ers.

In seven seasons with the Niners, Bengtson served under three head coaches: (Buck Shaw, Red Strader, Frankie Albert) before being dismissed with Albert after the 1958 season. Soon after, he was one of the first four assistants hired in Lombardi's first week with the Packers in early February 1959.

Bengtson was the only assistant coach to stay for the entire nine-year tenure of Lombardi (1959–1967). His work as defensive coordinator of the Packers established his coaching ability and put him in line to succeed Lombardi. From 1961 to 1967, the Packers captured five NFL titles, and the first two Super Bowls.

Bengtson replaced Lombardi following the 1967 season; his low-key approach was in sharp contrast to the often-volatile Lombardi. With the aging of key players, this translated into mediocrity for the franchise. Bengtson's Packers were 20–21–1 in his three seasons as head coach. After a 6–8 record in 1970, he was relieved of his duties, replaced by Missouri head coach Dan Devine for the 1971 season. Devine lasted four seasons with the Packers, moving back to the collegiate level at the University of Notre Dame following the 1974 season. Lombardi's former quarterback, Bart Starr, became the head coach of the Packers in 1975.

Bengtson resurfaced with the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, becoming the interim head coach of the Patriots in late 1972. Later, he was named the team's Director of Pro Scouting, staying through the 1974 season.

Bengtson died at age 81 after a long illness at his home in San Diego on December 18, 1994.

References

Green Bay Packers head coaches

Curly Lambeau (1921–1949)
Gene Ronzani (1950–1953)
Hugh Devore & Ray McLean # (1953)
Lisle Blackbourn (1954–1957)
Ray McLean (1958)
Vince Lombardi (1959–1967)
Phil Bengtson (1968–1970)
Dan Devine (1971–1974)
Bart Starr (1975–1983)
Forrest Gregg (1984–1987)
Lindy Infante (1988–1991)
Mike Holmgren (1992–1998)
Ray Rhodes (1999)
Mike Sherman (2000–2005)
Mike McCarthy (2006– )

Pound sign (#) denotes interim head coach.

Green Bay Packers general managers

Curly Lambeau (1919–1949) Gene Ronzani (1950–1953) Verne Lewellen (1954–1958) Vince Lombardi (1959–1968) Phil Bengtson (1969–1970) Dan Devine (1971–1974) Bart Starr (1975–1980) Tom Braatz # (1987–1991) Ron Wolf (1992–2000) Mike Sherman (2001–2004) Ted Thompson (2005– ) Pound sign (#) denotes de facto general manager.

Boston / New England Patriots head coaches

Lou Saban (1960–1961)
Mike Holovak (1961–1968)
Clive Rush (1969–1970)
John Mazur (1970–1972)
Phil Bengtson # (1972)
Chuck Fairbanks (1973–1978)
Hank Bullough & Ron Erhardt # (1978)
Ron Erhardt (1979–1981)
Ron Meyer (1982–1984)
Raymond Berry (1984–1989)
Rod Rust (1990)
Dick MacPherson (1991–1992)
Bill Parcells (1993–1996)
Pete Carroll (1997–1999)
Bill Belichick (2000– )

Pound sign (#) denotes interim head coach.

Phil Bengtson—championships, awards, and honors

Green Bay Packers 1961 NFL champions

Green Bay Packers 1962 NFL champions

Green Bay Packers 1965 NFL champions

Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I champions

5 Paul Hornung 12 Zeke Bratkowski 15 Bart Starr (MVP) 21 Bob Jeter 22 Elijah Pitts 24 Willie Wood 26 Herb Adderley 27 Red Mack 31 Jim Taylor 33 Jim Grabowski 34 Don Chandler 37 Phil Vandersea 40 Tom Brown 43 Doug Hart 44 Donny Anderson 45 Dave Hathcock 50 Bill Curry 56 Tommy Crutcher 57 Ken Bowman 60 Lee Roy Caffey 63 Fred Thurston 64 Jerry Kramer 66 Ray Nitschke 68 Gale Gillingham 72 Steve Wright 73 Jim Weatherwax 74 Henry Jordan 75 Forrest Gregg 76 Bob Skoronski 77 Ron Kostelnik 78 Bob Brown 80 Bob Long 81 Marv Fleming 82 Lionel Aldridge 83 Allen Brown 84 Carroll Dale 85 Max McGee 86 Boyd Dowler 87 Willie Davis 88 Bill Anderson 89 Dave Robinson

Head coach: Vince Lombardi

Coaches: Phil Bengtson Jerry Burns Red Cochran Dave Hanner Bob Schnelker Ray Wietecha

Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II champions

12 Zeke Bratkowski 13 Don Horn 15 Bart Starr (MVP) 21 Bob Jeter 23 Travis Williams 24 Willie Wood 26 Herb Adderley 27 Claudis James 30 Chuck Mercein 33 Jim Grabowski 34 Don Chandler 36 Ben Wilson 40 Tom Brown 43 Doug Hart 44 Donny Anderson 45 John Rowser 50 Bob Hyland 55 Jim Flanigan 56 Tommy Crutcher 57 Ken Bowman 60 Lee Roy Caffey 63 Fred Thurston 64 Jerry Kramer 66 Ray Nitschke 68 Gale Gillingham 72 Steve Wright 73 Jim Weatherwax 74 Henry Jordan 75 Forrest Gregg 76 Bob Skoronski 77 Ron Kostelnik 78 Bob Brown 80 Bob Long 81 Marv Fleming 82 Lionel Aldridge 83 Allen Brown 84 Carroll Dale 85 Max McGee 86 Boyd Dowler 87 Willie Davis 88 Dick Capp 89 Dave Robinson

Head Coach: Vince Lombardi

Coaches: Phil Bengtson Jerry Burns Wally Cruice Dave Hanner Tom McCormick Bob Schnelker Ray Wietecha

Members of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

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