Floyd Peters

Floyd Charles Peters (May 21, 1936 – August 18, 2008) was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and went to three Pro Bowls during his 13-year career. He played college football at San Francisco State University and was selected in the eighth round of the 1958 NFL draft. He was a defensive coach for over 20 years in the NFL.

Early life Peters was born on May 21, 1936, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was raised in Martinez, California, and attended John Swett High School in Crockett, California, graduating in 1954. He played both offense and defensive lines on the school's football team, playing nearly the full sixty minutes per game. He was All-County tackle and selected as the school's top football player as a senior.

College He attended San Francisco State University in San Francisco, playing defensive tackle under coach Vic Rowan. As a freshman, he was 6 ft (1.83 m) and 190 pounds (86.2 kg). Peters averaged 58 minutes a game during his career there. In 1955, his sophomore year, Peters was selected first-team All-Far Western Conference, and United Press International (UPI) named him first-team Little All Coast; honors he would win again over the next two years. He was a first team Little All American at guard, and led the team to a Far Western Conference title. It has also been reported he was a third-team Little All American at tackle (1957). Peters was the first person drafted into the NFL from San Francisco State. As a senior, he starred in the East West Shrine game. He is a member of the San Francisco State Gators Hall of Fame.

NFL playing career The 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Peters was drafted 93rd overall in the eighth round of the 1958 draft by the Baltimore Colts, but was cut before the season started where he was considered too small to play tackle at 225 pounds (102.1 kg). He then played semi-pro football for the Salinas Packers, until an NFL scout recommended him to Cleveland Browns' coach Paul Brown. Peters signed with the Browns in 1959 and played there four years; winning a starting job in 1960, playing at 250 pounds (113.4 kg).

He was traded to the Detroit Lions for the 1963 season, where he replaced Alex Karras during the future Pro Football Hall of Famer's year-long gambling suspension by Commissioner Pete Rozelle. He started all 14 games and had 4.5 sacks,

Peters played with the Eagles for six years, being named to the Pro Bowl in three of those years (1964, 1966-67) as a defensive lineman.

In the Eagles 1968 training camp, Peters had Eagles teammate Mark Nordquist (an offensive guard) work on pass rushing with Peters before morning practice and following afternoon practice, educating Nordquist on offensive technique in the process. Peters asked to be traded in 1970 when the Eagles were focusing on younger players. Over a 12-year career, he had three interceptions, eight fumble recoveries and 33 sacks.

Peters became a full-time coach for the first time in 1974. He was hired by Bill Arnsparger as a defensive line coach for the New York Giants (1974–1975).

In San Francisco, his defensive squad was known as the "Gold Rush" and in Detroit, the "Silver Rush". In 1983, the Cardinals led the NFL in sacks with 59. The Vikings defense was ranked first in the NFL in 1988 and 1989. The team had 71 sacks in 1989, one short of the NFL record. Defensive tackle Keith Millard, the AP NFL defensive player of the year, had 18 sacks (even though missing games with an injury), and Chris Doleman had 21.

Peters nickname in Tampa was Sgt. Rock.