Jack Patera

John Arlen "Jack" Patera (1 August 1933 to 31 October 2018) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League. Born in Bismarck, North Dakota, he played college football as a guard at the University of Oregon before turning professional as a middle linebacker with the Baltimore Colts, the Chicago Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys, where he was the first starting middle linebacker in the franchise's history. A knee injury ended his playing days after the 1961 season. He then coached, serving as a defensive line coach with the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings, and in 1976 he became the first head coach of the expansion Seattle Seahawks, a post he held until he was dismissed in 1982 with a record of 35 wins and 59 losses. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1978 by the Associated Press and The Sporting News.