Fritz Shurmur

Leonard Frank “Fritz” Shurmur (July 15, 1932 – August 30, 1999) was an American football coach who served as head coach of the University of Wyoming Cowboys from 1971 to 1974. He also served as the defensive coordinator for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers from 1994 to 1998. He was the uncle of Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur.

Early life

Shurmur was nicknamed Fritz as a baby, after his grandfather's cocker spaniel.^[1] He grew up in Wyandotte, Michigan along with his parents and his brother, Joseph. His nephew, Pat Shurmur served as the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to 2012.

Shurmur's father was a factory worker for 49 years in the suburbs of Detroit.^[2] Shurmur's parents twice refinanced the family home so Fritz and his brother could have opportunities to attend Albion College.^[2]

Playing career

Shurmur started playing football in high school at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte. Upon completion of high school, he attended and played college football at Albion College in Albion, Michigan. At Albion, Shurmur played center where he earned All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors, and was named the conference's most valuable player. As a complement to football, Shurmur also played baseball at Albion, where he earned all-conference honors.^[3]

Coaching beginnings

Shurmur started his coaching career when he became a graduate assistant in 1954, under Albion head coach Morley Fraser. After receiving his master's degree in education administration in 1956, Shurmur stayed at Albion as a defensive coordinator.^[4] In 1962, Shurmur accepted a job at the University of Wyoming as a defensive coach. He served on the coaching staff in this capacity until 1970. Following the 1970 season, he was promoted to the Cowboys' head coach and served through four seasons, amassing a record of 15-29.^[5]

NFL coaching career

From 1975 to 1998, Shurmur was a defensive coach in the National Football League. He coached for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. For nineteen of those years he was a defensive coordinator.^[1]

Shurmur became defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in 1994. In 1997, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots. Shurmur left Green Bay in 1999 to be defensive coordinator with the Seahawks when Mike Holmgren accepted the dual roles of head coach and general manager with Seattle.

Throughout his coaching career, Shurmur was widely known as an innovative mind on defense. Shurmur's coaching style was revered by peers in his profession for defensive genius. For example, in 1992 with the Cardinals, Shurmur had to devise a plan when two linebackers were injured. He developed a "Big Nickel" defense, that used five defensive backs close enough to the line of scrimmage to rush the passer or drop back into coverage.^[1]

References

External links

• Fritz Shurmur at Find a Grave
• New York Times: Fritz Shurmur, 67, a Coach Of Innovative N.F.L. Defenses