Bart Starr, who played quarterback and coached for the Green Bay Packers, has died at his home in Birmingham, Alabama at age 85. During 2014, he reportedly had two strokes and a heart attack, his health gradually failing since then.
Bryan Bartlett Starr was born in Montgomery, Alabama to Benjamin Starr, a state highway foreman and army reservist, and the former Lula Tucker. When he was a sophomore in high school, his father gave him a choice between gardening and football, and he chose the latter. As a junior, he became the starting quarterback when the previous starter suffered an injury, and led his team to an undefeated season. He was named all-state and All-American during his senior season. He decided to attend the University of Alabama, where he would play as a backup during his freshman season and started at quarterback as a sophomore. A back injury and a "youth movement" by Alabama's coaching staff kept him off the field for most of his last two years. He also eloped with Cherry Morton, who had been his girlfriend since high school.
Despite his relative lack of college playing time, Starr was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the 17th round in the 1956 NFL Draft. He became the backup quarterback in 1956 and was promoted to starter during the 1959 season by coach Vince Lombardi. He continued as the starter through 1970. After seeing limited time in 1971, he announced his retirement. During his playing career, he led the Packers to NFL championships in 1961, 1962 and 1965 through 1967, the last of these being a victory in the legendary "Ice Bowl". He was the MVP of the first two Super Bowls, both won by the Packers. (At the time, the Super Bowl was played between the champions of the NFL and the AFL, before the two leagues merged.) Starr was the MVP of the NFL in 1966. The Packers have retired his number, 15.
Starr was hired as the Packers' quarterbacks coach in 1972 and head coach in 1975, holding the position through the 1983 season. During his tenure, the Packers were in post-season play only in 1982, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals before losing to the Dallas Cowboys.
Starr was preceded in death by his younger son Bret, who died of a drug overdose in 1988, and is survived by his wife Cherry, their older son Bart Jr., and three grandchildren.
Read more at CBS News, NBC News, Sports Illustrated, WBAY and ESPN.
No comments:
Post a Comment