Lindy Infante

Gelindo "Lindy" Infante (March 27, 1940 – October 8, 2015) was an American football player and coach, who became an offensive coordinator and head coach in both the National Football League (NFL) and the United States Football League (USFL). Infante played college football for the University of Florida, and later served as the head coach of the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL, and the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.

Early life

Infante was born in Miami, Florida in 1940. He attended Miami Senior High School, where he was the star fullback for the Miami Stingarees.

College career

Infante accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and he played tailback for coach Ray Graves' Florida Gators football team from 1960 to 1962. He was also a member of Sigma Nu fraternity (Epsilon Zeta Chapter) while he was an undergraduate. Memorably, Infante scored the go-ahead touchdown in the Gators' 18–17 upset of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 1960, scored three touchdowns in their 21–7 victory over the Clemson Tigers in 1961, and was a senior team captain and a third-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1962.

Infante graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1964, and he was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Distinguished Letter Winner" in 1988.

Infante returned to his alma mater in 1966, where he worked as an assistant football coach under head coaches Graves and Doug Dickey until 1971, Infante served as the Bulls' head coach during their two spring football seasons in 1984 and 1985. After the 1985 season, the Bulls planned to merge with the Denver Gold and take the Gold's Mouse Davis as head coach; the USFL would never play the 1986 season. As Infante had left the USFL months ahead of its cessation, he was able to secure work in fall 1986, unlike most of the league's other coaches. He became the offensive coordinator of the Bernie Kosar-quarterbacked Cleveland Browns during the and NFL fall seasons. Under Infante, the 1987 Browns were the second-highest-scoring offense in the AFC. The season opened with great success, as the Colts started 5–1, but a four-game losing streak in the heart of the season ended their chances at an AFC East division title. Although they qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team, the Colts had to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh in the wild card playoff game. Although the Colts led 14–13 at the half, a second half collapse allowed the Steelers to claim a 42–14 victory. It was Infante's only NFL playoff game; Indianapolis lost their first ten games of the 1997 season, finishing 3–13. Infante was fired shortly after the season's end.

As an NFL head coach, Infante compiled a career record of 36–60, with an 0–1 record in the playoffs.

Head coaching record NFL Team Year Regular Season PostseasonWon LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %ResultGB198841205th in NFC Central – – – –GB198910602nd in NFC Central – – – –GB199061004th in NFC Central – – – –GB199141204th in NFC Central – – – –GB total 24400 – – – IND19969703rd in AFC East 0 1 Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC wild card gameIND199731305th in AFC East – – – –IND total 12200 0 1 Total 36600 0 1 USFL Team Year Regular Season PostseasonWon LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %ResultJAC19846120.3335th in EC Southern – – – –JAC1985990.5006th in Eastern Conference – – – –JAC Total15210.417–––

Life after football

After his retirement, Infante lived in Crescent Beach, Florida with his wife Stephanie, two sons and five grandchildren. He died in St. Augustine, Florida on October 8, 2015, aged 75.

Players who became head coaches Players who played for Infante who later became college or NFL head coaches

Jim Harbaugh: San Diego (2004–2006), Stanford (2007–2010), San Francisco 49ers (2011–2014), Michigan (2015–2023), Los Angeles Chargers (2024-Present) Vance Joseph: Denver Broncos (2017–2018)