George William Wilson, Sr. (February 3, 1914 – November 23, 1978) was a professional footballend for the Chicago Bears and later a coach for the National Football League (NFL)'s Detroit Lions and the American Football League (AFL)'s Miami Dolphins. Wilson attended and played football at Northwestern University. He went undrafted in 1937, before being signed by the Chicago Bears. Wilson played for ten seasons with the Bears, compiling overall record of 111 pass receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, and fifteen touchdowns. He was a member of the Bears during their five appearances in the National Football League Championship Game from 1940–1943 and 1946. Additionally, he was selected for the NFL All-Star Game from 1940–1942. He also played one season of professional basketball for the Chicago Bruins in 1939–40. Wilson won seven championships combined as a player and coach.
His coaching career began with the Bears in 1947, when he became an assistant coach to George Halas. After just two seasons with Chicago, Wilson left in 1949 for another assistant coaching position with the Detroit Lions, a division rival of the Bears. Prior to the 1957 season, he succeeded Buddy Parker as head coach. In his first year as head coach, Wilson guided Detroit to an 8–4 season and victory in the 1957 NFL Championship Game, the most recent league championship for the Lions. For his efforts, Wilson was awarded the first Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award. He remained with the Lions until 1964, though they were unable to replicate their success of 1957. Wilson then served for one year as an assistant coach to the Washington Redskins in 1965. Shortly after the season ended, Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie hired Wilson as the first head coach of the new AFL franchise in 1966. His son, George Wilson Jr., was a starting quarterback during the team's first season. Wilson, Sr. was unable to obtain a winning record in his four seasons with Miami. He was fired in February 1970 and replaced by Don Shula.
After being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Wilson retired from football and entered the construction and real estate business in South Florida. By 1978, he moved back to Michigan, where he died of a heart attack in Detroit on November 23, 1978.
Football
Playing career
He attended and played football at Saint Johns Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, WI during high school as well as Northwestern University for college. Wilson was a member of the 1936 Wildcats team, which won the Big Ten Conference championship.[1] After going undrafted in 1937, he was signed by the Chicago Bears later that year. Although Wilson participated in all eleven games of his rookie season, he started only two games. He recorded just one reception for 20 yards in 1937. The following season, Wilson recorded his first career touchdown. From 1940 to 1942, he was selected for the NFL All-Star Game, today known as the Pro Bowl, and was First-team in 1942. Wilson was a member of the Bears during their five appearances in the National Football League championship Game from 1940 to 1943 and in 1946, with the team winning in all but 1942.[2] Listed as a starting right end for the 1940 NFL Championship Game, Wilson threw a tremendous block which took out two Redskin defenders as Bill Osmanski broke away for the Bears first score during their historic 73–0 rout of the Washington Redskins.[3]
During the 1943 season, Wilson recorded a career-high 293 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns.[2] In the 1943 NFL Championship Game, Wilson caught three passes for 29 yards in the club's 41–21 defeat of the Redskins.[4] He had similar regular season performances in 1944 and 1945. In the former, he caught 24 passes for 265 yards, including 4 touchdowns. In 1945, Wilson recorded a career-high 28 receptions, for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns. He retired as a player following the 1946 season, compiling an overall record of 111 pass receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns.[2]
Coaching career
Wilson began his coaching career with the Bears in 1947, when he became an assistant coach to George Halas.[5] He spent just two seasons with Chicago, before taking an assistant coaching position in 1949 with the Detroit Lions, a division rival of the Bears.[6] Before the 1957 season began, he succeeded Buddy Parker as head coach, who abruptly resigned on August 12.[7] Wilson instituted an 11 p.m. curfew for his team while issuing $50 per hour fines for violators and doing bed checks at training camp. He described his manner as such: "I joke around a lot, but there's only one way to play football and that is to beat down the other guy."[8] The crackdown policy was modified to be tougher when the team had a middling run of preseason games, but it did not stop Wilson from having to bail out his quarterback Bobby Layne from an arrest on drunk driving in the middle of the night.
In his first year as head coach, Wilson guided Detroit to an 8–4 season and a 59–14 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL championship game, still the most recent league title for the Lions.[9] For his efforts, Wilson was the first recipient of the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award.[10] In January 1958, he also served as the Western Conference head coach for the first nationally televised Pro Bowl, while Parker, then head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, led the Eastern Conference.[11] The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference by a score of 26–7.[12]
In 1960, Wilson hired Don Shula as the defensive coordinator, who later succeeded him as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.[13] The Lions were 7–5 in 1960 and advanced to the first edition of the third-place Playoff Bowl,[9][14] where they defeated the Browns 17–16.[14] Detroit's record was slightly better in 1961 at 8–5–1,[9] went to the Playoff Bowl again, and soundly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–10.[14] Despite finishing the 1962 season with 11 victories and 3 defeats – the best win–loss record during Wilson's tenure – they failed for the third consecutive season to edge the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Western Conference,[9] but won a third straight Playoff Bowl, this time 17–10 over the Steelers.[14]
Wilson remained with the Lions through 1964, though they were unable reach another NFL championship game after 1957.[9] He resigned on December 23, two days after his five assistant coaches were fired by ownership,[15][16][17] and was succeeded by former Lions player Harry Gilmer.[18] Upon his resignation from the Lions, Wilson had compiled a 53–45–6 (.538) record; only Wayne Fontes had more wins as head coach of Detroit.[9] He then served for one year as an assistant coach under Bill McPeak with the Washington Redskins in 1965.[19]
Miami improved slightly in 1967 and 1968, going 4–10 and 5–8–1, respectively.[26] After the 1968 season, Wilson's three-year contract expired, leaving uncertainty if he would coach the team in 1969. Robbie stated "George has done a good job with players. That is his strong point. That doesn't mean he's weak in other aspects, but he handles players well."[27] Wilson was signed to a new one-year contract on December 18, 1968.[28] In February 1969, Wilson promised "continued improvement" for the team at a luncheon honoring the new draftees, while MiamimayorStephen P. Clark presented him a plaque for "untiring efforts to bring Miami a championship football team."[29] However, the Dolphins regressed to 3–10–1, worst in the AFL; Wilson was fired two months later on February 18, 1970, and was succeeded by Baltimore Colts' head coach Shula.[30]
Wilson's career record as a head coach was 68–84–8 (.450), and was 2–0 in the postseason.[32]
Initially, Wilson was critical over his removal as head coach and replacement with Shula. Following the 1970 and 1971 seasons, he attempted to repudiate the public perception that Shula built a strong team, stating that "As far as I'm concerned, he took over a ready-made team.", before adding "I was fired when the team was ready to go." In criticism directly aimed at Shula, Wilson remarked, "I also helped him get the Baltimore Colts head coaching job (in 1963). I practically wrote his contract for him. (Colts' owner) Carroll Rosenbloom wanted me to take the job and I had twelve meetings with him about it. But I got him to take Shula."[33] However, any tension between them faded after Wilson congratulated Shula following the Dolphins victory in Super Bowl VII and after he invited Shula for a round of golf at his newly purchased golf course in July 1973.[34]
In 1980, Wilson was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Among the other three inductees was Alex Karras, a former Lions player whom he coached.[35]
He and his wife, Claire, had four daughters and one son, George Wilson Jr. After being fired from his coaching position at the Miami Dolphins, Wilson entered the construction and real estate industries and also operated a golf course near Miami. In 1978, Wilson moved back to Michigan and intended to eventually live in a house he built in Howell, but died before doing so. On November 23, 1978, Wilson Sr. suffered a heart attack and died at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit at the age of 64.[41]
^"Coach stays with Lions; aides fired". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 22, 1964. p. 11. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
^"Miami Must Settle Quarterback's Job". The Express. (Lock Haven, Pennsylvania). September 7, 1967. p. 33. Retrieved March 21, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^Ed Plaisted (December 12, 1968). "Good Season For Dolphins". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). p. 37. Retrieved March 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^Ed Plaisted (December 19, 1968). "Dolphins' Wilson to Return". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). p. D1. Retrieved March 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Dolphins' Dreams, Draftees Discussed". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). February 18, 1969. p. 16. Retrieved March 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Wilson Gets Ax". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). United Press International. February 19, 1970. pp. C1. Retrieved March 22, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ready-Made Team". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). Associated Press. January 12, 1972. p. C1. Retrieved March 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ex-Dolphin Coach 'Buries Hatchet'". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). Associated Press. July 9, 1973. p. D3. Retrieved March 29, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^"MSHOF Inductees". Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
^"George Wilson". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
^"Former Miami Coach Wilson Dead at 64". The Palm Beach Post. (West Palm Beach, Florida). November 25, 1978. p. B6. Retrieved March 22, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.