Professional Football Player, Coach. For six seasons (1955, 1958 to 1962), he played at the defensive-back position in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Born Charles Edward Sumner, he attended Dublin High School in Virginia and played collegiate football at the College of William & Mary. Selected by the Bears during the 22nd round of the 1954 NFL Draft, he totaled 73 career regular season games. After retiring as a player, he launched a lengthy career as a coach initially with the Oakland Raiders from (1963 to 1968) and contributed to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1968. He served under Tom Flores with Oakland and later the Los Angeles Raiders and was on staff when they won two Super Bowl titles (1981 and 1984). Additionally, he had stints as a coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1969 to 1972) and New England Patriots from 1973 until 1978. In 1985, he served as head coach of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League and guided the team to an appearance in the championship game (defeated by Baltimore). He went on to a third stint as a coach with the Raiders from 1986 to 1989, before retiring. He was inducted into the State of Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He died of complications following gallbladder surgery.
Professional Football Player, Coach. For six seasons (1955, 1958 to 1962), he played at the defensive-back position in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Born Charles Edward Sumner, he attended Dublin High School in Virginia and played collegiate football at the College of William & Mary. Selected by the Bears during the 22nd round of the 1954 NFL Draft, he totaled 73 career regular season games. After retiring as a player, he launched a lengthy career as a coach initially with the Oakland Raiders from (1963 to 1968) and contributed to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1968. He served under Tom Flores with Oakland and later the Los Angeles Raiders and was on staff when they won two Super Bowl titles (1981 and 1984). Additionally, he had stints as a coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1969 to 1972) and New England Patriots from 1973 until 1978. In 1985, he served as head coach of the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League and guided the team to an appearance in the championship game (defeated by Baltimore). He went on to a third stint as a coach with the Raiders from 1986 to 1989, before retiring. He was inducted into the State of Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He died of complications following gallbladder surgery.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Advertisement
