View source for Don McCafferty

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1921–1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name               = Don McCafferty
| number             = 87
| position           = [[End (gridiron football)|End]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1921|3|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1974|7|28|1921|3|12|mf=y}}
| death_place        = [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]], U.S.
| height_ft          = 6
| height_in          = 4
| weight_lb          = 220
| high_school        = [[James Ford Rhodes High School|Cleveland (OH) Rhodes]]
| college            = [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]
| draftyear          = 1943
| draftround         = 13
| draftpick          = 116
| pastteams          = 
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1946}})
* [[American Association (American football)#American Football League (1946–1950)|Jersey City Giants]] ([[American Association (American football)#American Football League (1946–1950)#1947|1947]])
| pastcoaching       = 
* [[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State]] ([[1948 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|1948]]–[[1958 Kent State Golden Flashes football team|1958]])<br>Assistant coach
* [[Baltimore Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1959}}–{{NFL Year|1962}})<br>Assistant coach
* Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1963}}–{{NFL Year|1969}})<br>Offensive coordinator
* Baltimore Colts ({{NFL Year|1970}}–{{NFL Year|1972}})<br>Head coach
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1973}})<br>Head coach
| highlights         =  
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl V|V]])
* 2× [[NFL champion]] ([[1959 NFL Championship Game|1959]],[[1968 NFL Championship Game|1968]]) 
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|1942]])
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1942 College Football All-America Team|1942]])
| statlabel1         = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Reception]]s
| statvalue1         = 3
| statlabel2         = Receiving yards
| statvalue2         = 38
| statlabel3         = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3         = 1
| coachregrecord     = {{Winning percentage|28|17|2|record=y}}
| coachplayoffrecord = {{Winning percentage|4|1|record=y}}
| coachrecord        = {{Winning percentage|32|18|2|record=y}}
| pfr                = McCaDo20
| pfrcoach           = McCaDo0
}}

'''Donald William McCafferty''' (March 12, 1921 – July 28, 1974) was an American [[American football|football]] player and coach in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). In his first year as head coach of the [[Baltimore Colts]], McCafferty led the team to a victory in [[Super Bowl V]], becoming the first rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap2000000318365/Mind-blowing-stats-for-the-Super-Bowl|title=Mind-blowing stats for the Super Bowl|work=[[National Football League]]|date=January 29, 2014|access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> McCafferty played college football at [[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]].

==College career==
McCafferty played [[college football]] for [[Ohio State University]] under coach [[Paul Brown]], where he was a key member of the offensive line.  Due to World War II, he was one of a select group of players to play twice in the annual [[College All-Star Game]] held in [[Chicago]].

McCafferty joined the [[U.S. Army]] in 1943, cutting short his college football career. While stationed at [[Fort Bragg]] in North Carolina, McCafferty played on the station's football team.<ref>{{cite web |title=1959 Baltimore Colts media guide |url=https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/colts/bcma9beed9onri27hvm2.pdf |website=Colts.com |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Despite being in the military, McCafferty was drafted by the [[New York Giants]] in the 13th round of the [[1943 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Governali to Flock; Giants Draw Filip |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-governali-to-flock-giants-dr/158910292/ |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=The New York Daily News |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=April 9, 1943}}</ref> MCafferty joined the Giants in 1946 at the conclusion of his military service and was shifted from tackle to wide receiver, then known as an [[End (gridiron football)|end]]. In his one season with the Giants, McCafferty made three receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown.<ref>{{cite web |title=Don McCafferty |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCaDo20.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 12, 2024}}</ref>

McCafferty re-signed with the Giants prior to the [[1947 NFL season]] but was sent to their minor league team, the Jersey City Giants, of the [[American Association (American football)#American Football League (1946–1950)|American Football League]]. He played with Jersey City for one year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen Confident Jersey Giants Will Retain Crown Following 20 to 16 Victory Over Bethlehem Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bayonne-times-own-confident-jersey-g/158909574/ |access-date=November 12, 2024 |work=The Bayonne Times |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=September 29, 1947}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
After working in the [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], recreation department the following year, McCafferty was hired as an assistant coach at [[Kent State Golden Flashes football|Kent State University]] in 1948.  He spent eleven seasons with the Golden Flashes until accepting an assistant coaching position with the [[Baltimore Colts]] in [[1959 Baltimore Colts season|1959]] under head coach [[Weeb Ewbank]].  During his first season at the professional level, McCafferty was a member of the Colts' [[1959 NFL Championship Game|1959 NFL championship team]], their second straight championship.

Ewbank was fired after the [[1962 Baltimore Colts season|1962]] season and McCafferty remained with the team as offensive backs coach under new head coach [[Don Shula]].  McCafferty's easy-going personality helped serve as a buffer against the demanding Shula's quest for perfection, a contrast that played a major part in the team's three NFL playoff appearances during the next seven years.  Colts' Hall of Fame quarterback [[Johnny Unitas]] once said about McCafferty, "He doesn't shout and scream.  He's able to look at football objectively without getting carried away emotionally."  He was referred to in the press and by the Colts players as "Easy Rider."<ref name=snadsk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vMQVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7213%2C452205 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts pick Sandusky as coach |date=October 17, 1972 |page=2, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Callahan|first=Tom|title=Johnny U|year=2006|publisher=Crown|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4000-8139-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/johnnyulifetimes00call/page/219 219]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/johnnyulifetimes00call/page/219}}</ref>

When Shula left after seven seasons in February [[1970 Baltimore Colts season|1970]] for the [[Miami Dolphins]], McCafferty was promoted to head coach on April 6, 1970.<ref name=mjshrep>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ondQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aBEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5621%2C3481279 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Shula replaces Miami's Wilson |date=February 19, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=jumpmia>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RBonAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7083%2C4503386 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Dollar signs convince Shula to jump to Miami Dolphins |date=February 19, 1970 |page=4D}}</ref><ref name=cputhc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CsktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lqAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4920%2C4779862 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=Associated Press |title=Colts passed up 3 head coaches |date=April 7, 1970 |page=21}}</ref><ref name=yvupinhc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w3FIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x4IMAAAAIBAJ&pg=660%2C2601701 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |location=(Ohio) |agency=UPI |last=Riker |first=Dan |title=Don McCafferty, ex-Kent State mentor, is named Baltimore head coach
|date=April 7, 1970 |page=14}}</ref><ref name=msmcff>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sdYpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2372%2C1220979 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=McCafferty Colt coach |date=April 7, 1970 |page=1, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In his first season as head coach, McCafferty led the Colts to an 11–2–1 record and their second [[Super Bowl]] appearance in three years.  In the turnover-filled [[Super Bowl V]] against the [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]<!-- on January 17, 1971-->, the Colts won 16–13 on a last-second field goal by rookie [[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197101170clt.htm |title=Super Bowl V - Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Colts - January 17th, 1971 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=2018-06-07}}</ref><ref name=elvnbg>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1971/01/25/542218/eleven-big-mistakes |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Maule |first=Tex |author-link=Tex Maule |title=Eleven big mistakes |date=January 25, 1971 |page=12}}</ref>

The Colts once again reached the [[1971–72 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] in [[1971 Baltimore Colts season|1971]], but were shut out 21–0 in the [[AFC Championship game]] by Shula's [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Dolphins]] in the [[Miami Orange Bowl|Orange Bowl]].<ref name=tkcg>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1972/01/10/554406/they-kept-coming-and-coming |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Underwood |first=John |title='They kept coming and coming' |date=January 11, 1972 |page=15}}</ref> Ownership changed in [[1972 Baltimore Colts season|1972]], and after only one win in the team's first five games, the last a 21–0 home shutout loss to [[1972 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]], general manager [[Joe Thomas (American football executive)|Joe Thomas]] ordered the 39-year-old Unitas benched as the team's quarterback; when McCafferty refused, he was fired.<ref name=snadsk/>

McCafferty signed a three-year contract as head coach of the [[1973 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] three months later on January 26, 1973. He succeeded [[Joe Schmidt (American football)|Joe Schmidt]] who had resigned two weeks prior.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/27/archives/detroit-gets-excolt-coach-dipping-outside.html "Detroit Gets Ex‐Colt Coach," ''The Associated Press'', Friday, January 26, 1973.] Retrieved December 17, 2018</ref> The Lions finished 6&ndash;7&ndash;1 in McCafferty's only season in [[1973 Detroit Lions season|1973]].<ref name="adieueasyrider">[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/29/archives/don-mccafferty-nfl-coach-of-colts-and-lions-is-dead-backed-by.html "Don McCafferty, N.F.L. Coach Of Colts and Lions, Is Dead," ''The Associated Press'', Sunday, July 28, 1974.] Retrieved December 17, 2018</ref> 

==Death==
On July 28, 1974, while spending some time at his home in [[West Bloomfield, Michigan|West Bloomfield]], [[Michigan]], McCafferty suffered a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] while mowing his [[lawn]]. After being transported to a [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]] [[hospital]], he died at age 53.<ref name=lshocd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DI9aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KkoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7002%2C2064337 |work=Ludington Daily News |location=(Michigan) |agency=UPI |title=Lions shocked over coach's death |date=July 29, 1974 |page=5}}</ref><ref name=mcfsgw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7w5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NkMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4459%2C7919384 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=Associated Press |title=McCafferty death shocks grid world |date=July 29, 1974 |page=16}}</ref><ref name=mjlpfrz>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5WIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XikEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2172%2C5615107 |work=Milwaukee Journal |agency=press dispatches |title=Lions pick Forzano after coach's death |date=July 29, 1974 |page=11, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was buried three days later, following services at [[Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens]] in [[Timonium, Maryland|Timonium]], [[Maryland]].

==Head coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[1970 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||{{nfly|1970}}
||11||2||1||{{winpct|11|2|1}}||'''1st in [[AFC East]]'''||3||0||{{winpct|3|0}}|| <Small>'''[[Super Bowl V]] champions'''</Small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1971 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||{{nfly|1971}}
||10||4||0||{{winpct|10|4|0}}||2nd in [[AFC East]]||1||1||{{winpct|3|0}}|| <Small>'''Lost to the [[Miami Dolphins]] in [[1971–72 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship]]'''</Small>
|-
![[1972 Baltimore Colts season|BAL]]||{{nfly|1972}}
||1||4||0||{{winpct|1|4|0}}||3rd in [[AFC East]]||–||–||{{winpct|0|0}}|| 
|-
! colspan="2"|BAL Total||22||10||1||{{winpct|22|10|1}}||||4||1||{{winpct|4|1}}||
|-
![[1973 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||{{nfly|1973}}
||6||7||1||{{winpct|6|7|1}}||2nd in [[NFC Central]]||–||–||{{winpct|0|0}}|| 
|-
! colspan="2"|DET Total||6||7||1||{{winpct|6|7|1}}||||–||–||{{winpct|0|0}}||
|-
! colspan="2"|Total<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McCaDo0.htm Don McCafferty Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks – Pro-Football-Reference.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>||28||17||2||{{winpct|28|17|2}}||||4||1||{{winpct|4|1}}||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{Find a Grave|13392158}}

{{1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football navbox}}
{{Giants1943DraftPicks}}
{{Indianapolis Colts coach navbox}}
{{Detroit Lions coach navbox}}
{{1959 Baltimore Colts}}
{{1968 Baltimore Colts}}
{{Super Bowl V}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCafferty, Don}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:American football ends]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts coaches]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions coaches]]
[[Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football coaches]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Cleveland]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from West Bloomfield, Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oakland County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Burials at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens]]
[[Category:Super Bowl–winning head coaches]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions head coaches]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts head coaches]]
[[Category:American Association (American football) players]]