Neill Armstrong

Neill Ford Armstrong (March 9, 1926 – August 10, 2016) was an American professional football player and coach whose career spanned more than four decades at both the college and professional levels. Notably, Armstrong served as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Member of the 1945 National Championship Oklahoma A&M Team.

Playing career Armstrong played college football at Oklahoma A & M from 1943 to 1946, and was chosen in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1947 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Playing both at end and defensive back, he helped the team capture the NFL championship in both 1948 and 1949. Armstrong concluded his playing career in the early 1950s playing for the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Coaching career In 1962, Armstrong's professional coaching career began when he was hired as an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers of the up-start American Football League (AFL). After serving two years in that capacity, he shifted back to Canada as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. In his six years, the team reached the postseason three times.

Armstrong was hired as an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings in 1970, He and Bud Grant hold the distinction of being the only two people to have both played and been a head coach in both the NFL and CFL. He died in Trophy Club, Texas in 2016.

Head coaching record

NFL Team Year Regular season PostseasonWon LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %ResultCHI19787904th in NFC Central – – – –CHI197910602nd in NFC Central 0 1 Lost to Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Wild-Card Game.CHI19807903rd in NFC Central – – – –CHI198161005th in NFC Central – – – – CHI total 30 34 0 0 1 – Total 30 34 0 0 1 –