Dec. 22, 1964 - What takes crazier bounces than a football? Easy. Coaching jobs in pro football.
There was the NFL beauty yesterday when the Detroit Lions kept head coach George Wilson (pictured in 1961) but fired all of his five assistants. And today there was a dilly in the AFL, a tough one to follow even if you have a program.
Hugh (Bones) Taylor, a former pass-catching star with the Washington Redskins of the NFL, signed as head coach of Houston of the AFL. He succeeded an old teammate and friend, Sammy Baugh, becoming the Oilers’ fifth head coach since 1960. Then Taylor promptly named Baugh as his backfield coach.
The 50-year-old Baugh, who resigned as head man last week to spend more time at his 6,300-acre ranch in Texas, said: “I like coaching football, but Bones can have all that office work that goes with the job. I want to confine my football to the practice field.”
Taylor was Baugh’s defensive backfield coach this season. They worked together once before with the then New York Titans. That time, too, Baugh was the head coach and Taylor an aide de camp.
Baugh thinks Taylor, 41, has the makings of a fine head coach. “He was the best receiver I saw in my 16 years as a pro, and I think he’ll make a hell of a pro coach,” Sammy said.
Baugh lured Taylor away from a job with the San Diego Chargers last June when Houston owner Bud Adams Jr. abruptly fired Frank (Pop) Ivy and hired Baugh.
“I want to make one thing clear,” the 6-5 Taylor said today. “I didn’t come here from San Diego to cut Sam’s throat. If I thought anyone felt I came here to get Sam’s job, I’d walk away right now.”
About the contract, Taylor said with a smile: “I’ll agree it is one year at somewhere less than $1 million, but that really doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t want any kind of a contract if Mr. Adams becomes unhappy with my work.”
“Bones is an easy man to get along with,” Adams remarked.
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