Marion Campbell: 1929-2016
Marion Campbell devoted four decades of his life towards the game of football as a player, coordinator, and head coach. A star Pro Bowler in Philadelphia, Campbell was a classic 60-minute man who played on both the offensive and defensive line. He was a key cog to Philadelphia’s 1960 Championship team, blocking for quarterback Sunny Jurgensen against Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.
Following eight seasons playing for the Eagles and 49ers, Campbell turned towards coaching. Atlanta hired him to be their defensive coordinator in 1969, and promoted him to head coach in 1974. Eagles head coach Dick Vermeil brought Campbell back to the organization, naming him the defensive coordinator in 1977.
Coaching a defense that featured Herm Edwards and Bill Bergey, Campbell was instrumental in helping the Eagles get to Super Bowl XV. The Eagles defenses ranked first in the league in points allowed in 1980 and 1981, and second and first in yards allowed. After Dick Vermeil suddenly retired in 1983, Campbell took over an Eagles team led by Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael, and Wilbert Montgomery.
After three years as the Eagles head coach, Campbell returned to coach Atlanta, and finally finished his career with the Georgia Bulldogs as their defensive coordinator. He was 87-years-old.