Jan. 8, 1963 - The Baltimore Colts dismissed head coach Weeb Ewbank today and named Don Shula (pictured right with Pat Studstill), a former Colt and now defensive backfield coach with the Detroit Lions, to replace him. The Colts’ owner, Carroll Rosenbloom, said Shula had signed a two-year contract at an undisclosed salary. Ewbank, who has two years remaining on his contract for $30,000 annually, was offered another unspecified job with the Colts organization but has not made up his mind whether to accept. Mr. Rosenbloom said: “Letting Ewbank go was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do, and I mean this with regret and from the bottom of my heart. I’ve always had admiration for him, but he proved in this conversation that he is some man.” Ewbank inherited scant material when he joined Baltimore in 1954 but quickly became the toast of the NFL by leading the Colts to consecutive championships in 1958-9. Ewbank’s record with the Colts was 59-52-1. He weathered turbulent years with Baltimore, but his team last season finished with a mediocre 7-7 record, its worst since 1956.
