Richie Petitbon

Richard Alvin Petitbon (born April 18, 1938) is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). Petitbon first attended Loyola University New Orleans on a track and field scholarship and left after his freshman year to play college football for the Tulane Green Wave.

After playing as a quarterback at Tulane, he played as a safety for the Chicago Bears from 1959 to 1968, Los Angeles Rams in 1969 and 1970, and Washington Redskins in 1971 and 1972. Petitbon recorded the second most interceptions in Bears history with 37 during his career, trailing Gary Fencik.

Petitbon also holds the Bears' record for the longest interception return, after scoring on a 101-yard return against the Rams in 1962. , he also holds the Bears record for the most interceptions in a game—3 against the Green Bay Packers in 1967—and most interception return yards in a season (212 in 1962).

Early life Petitbon was born in New Orleans on April 18, 1938 to a French immigrant father and American mother. In a 1954 game against archrival Holy Cross, Petitbon threw an 88-yard touchdown pass to Billy Ladner, the longest completion in school history.

Petitbon's Jesuit High record stood for 66 years until it was broken in 2020, on an 89-yard pass from Luke LaForge to Max Milano. The new record was broken the following year, on a 96-yard pass from Jack Larriviere to Jace Larsen, in the 101st meeting between Jesuit High and Holy Cross for the Golden Football.

College career Petitbon had run the 100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds in high school, and initially went to Loyola University in New Orleans on a track scholarship, in 1957.

NFL playing career

Chicago Bears Petitbon was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 1959 draft, the 21st player taken overall. In his first year, he played cornerback, with three interceptions and one touchdown return on an interception. In 1960, Hall of Fame coach George Halas switched Petitbon to safety, where he would play the next 13 years. One of his defensive coordinators with the Bears was future Hall of Fame coach George Allen. Petitbon also played under defensive coordinator Clark Shaughnessy with the Bears, whom Petitbon considered a genius.

In 1962, he returned an interception against the Los Angeles Rams 101 yards for a touchdown, the longest return in Bears' history. He had six interceptions that year, and a league leading 212 return yards on interceptions.

In 1963, Petitbon had eight interceptions.

In 1966, The Sporting News named him first team All-Conference at strong safety. In 1967, he was again selected to the Pro Bowl. In the Pro Bowl game, played in January 1968, Petitbon intercepted a Fran Tarkenton pass, and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, then a Pro Bowl record. Petitbon was named second-team All-Pro by the AP, UPI and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). He played 10 years total with the Bears. His 38 interceptions with the Bears ranks second in team history. He came back to play that season for the Bears.

During his time with the Bears, he had captained the team and called defensive signals.

George Allen traded for Petitbon again two years later when he became head coach in Washington. In his first game with Washington in 1971, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Petitbon had three interceptions. In 1981, future Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs became head coach, and he made Petitbon defensive coordinator. Washington linebacker Matt Millen, who would go on to be a network broadcaster and president of the Detroit Lions, observed that an excellent coach like Petitbon can determine a defense's success as much as the talent of the team's personnel. Following his firing, Petitbon never took another job in the NFL.

Personal life and family Petitbon's older brother, John Petitbon, also attended Jesuit High School and led it to the Louisiana AA football championship in 1946. John attended Notre Dame for college, and played in the NFL. His NFL career was interrupted by his service as a marine in Korea, winning an NFL championship in 1955 with the Cleveland Browns after his return from the war. He is a current player for the Terrapins. Carson's brother, Richie Petitbon III played offensive line at the University of Alabama and the University of Illinois, and his other brother Luke was an offensive lineman at Wake Forest University and Florida State University.

After the NFL, Richie Petitbon joined his son's Alarm Company called "Petitbon Alarm Company."

Honors In 1969, Petitbon was selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association at quarterback, along with Y.A. Tittle, to the all-time Louisiana collegiate football team, based on Petitbon's 1955 season with Tulane. Both Petitbon brothers are members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame. Richie was inducted into the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. He was not among those selected for the class of 2025.

Head coaching record Team Year Regular season PostseasonWonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultWAS19934120.2505th in NFC East – – – –