| Date of birth: | September 9, 1954 |
| Place of birth: | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Punter |
| College: | Florida A&M |
| NFL Draft: | 1976 / Round: 14 / Pick: 398 (by the Cincinnati Bengals) |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1977 1978-1987 1988 |
Cleveland Browns Minnesota Vikings Washington Redskins |
| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
Gregory Jerome Coleman (born September 9, 1954 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a retired American football punter who had a 12-year career in the National Football League playing for the Cleveland Browns, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Washington Redskins. He attended Florida A&M University. Coleman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity
Coleman currently is the Minnesota Vikings sideline reporter for KFAN. He is the cousin of former Major League Baseball outfielder Vince Coleman. Early in his career, he earned the nickname "Coffin Corner" because of his ability to aim his kicks near the corner of the playing field where the end zone and out-of-bounds lines meet. Due to his uncharacteristic speed (for a punter) defenses often lined up to guard against a fake punt because he was a threat to run for a first down.
He is known as being one of the first African American Punters in the NFL. He was selected by the fans to be a member of the Viking 40th Anniversary team. he is a member of the Florida A & M Football Hall of Fame and is also a member of the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Currently, he is a Manager of National Public Safety Markets for Harris Corporation - Assured Communications, an international company that offers total communications solutions providing land mobile customers with state-of-the-art technology and products. Harris Corporation serves public safety, utility, industrial, commercial and government organizations worldwide.
He is the co-founder of the Pepsi Minority Golf Tournament, an event in his hometown of Jacksonville Florida that provides college scholorships for students in the North Florida area. He is also the founder of the Greg Coleman Celebrity Golf Tournament . This event benefits students in the Twin Cities area in conjuncation with the University of Minnesota YMCA Tutoring Mentoring and life skills programs.
He is an ordained minister and has served as Associate Pastor in the Twin Cities for a number of years. Greg is the founder of "Touch From Him Ministries" a ministry that is designed to encourage and spread the Good News and together with his wife Eleanor they facilitate marriage educations seminars. He also supports the Minnesota Fellowship/Chapel Programs. This fellowship focuses on the spiritual relationships of players, coaches and other members of the organization.
He and his wife Eleanor have two adult children, Cara and Gregory II.