Chuck Noll - Gone and Forgotten

Rare that you ever hear about one of the greatest NFL coaches. The guy won 4 Super Bowls- more than any other head coach.

From what I've read, by his own choice he faded off into the sunset but boy I would love to hear what he has to say about the current NFL.

 

Did you read Elizabeth Merrill's story on him from 2009? You're right, he'd prefer to just fade away.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/news/story?page=hotread19/chucknoll

 

Kind of refreshing actually, in that nowadays every coach of some import of success (Cowher, Gruden, Urban et al) seems to find their way behind a microphone and into our living rooms.

 

It is refreshing but dam I would love to hear what he had to say just from a football standpoint. He lead the most dominant team ever in the NFL.

He is the JD Salinger of the Sports World.

 

The sense I got when I asked a couple Pittsburgh writers was that maybe he has dementia to some degree. There are a few hints of that in the Merrill story, the wife taking his calls, etc.

 

There have been rumors about that for years, which is a shame because he was such an intelligent man. He also had a reputation for being tough to the point of dirty when he was a lineman for the Browns.

I did get the opportunity to interview him as part of a group not long after he retired (thank you to my very well connected instructor for a college sports journalism class). He already seemed to have softened a little. But I have never been more nervous to ask anybody a question than I was with Noll because he had such a reputation for impatience with questions he didn't like.

I agree with you, Boom. I'd love to hear what he has to say about the current NFL. I'm just afraid that he is in no shape to do that any more.

 

Ukulele? Really? Thanks DD. That was a very enjoyable read.

 

Tony Dungy's book gives glimpses at Noll as a coach.

 

Yes - good point - Noll was Tony Dungy's roll model.

 

Here's a story from last month about Noll's impact on John Fox:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10357/1112893-66.stm

 

Just saw his name on the celebrity birthday list within the last few weeks. He's 79. My understanding is he has miserable health problems, which may include dementia. His wife is ultra-protective and doesn't let anybody other than most inner of the inner circle get through the wall.

 

Very sad if he has dementia. All these old Steelers with brain impairments. Really starting to wonder what was in that water at Latrobe.