Bryan wrote:An interesting character in NFL history. He coached the Giants for nearly the entire decade of the 1960's, beginning his career with 3 consecutive championship game appearances (all losses, with his offense scoring 10 total points) and then being in charge of the Giants' massive rebuilding effort before getting the boot after the 1968 season. The 68 Giants probably overachieved to be 7-3 at one point, then lost their last 4 games to some of the best teams in the NFL to wind up 7-7. Sherman's stretch from 1964-1966 is really bizarre...2-10-2 followed by a 7-7 season, then regressing to 1-12-1.
What do people think of Sherman as a coach? I don't know too many particulars about his strategies, but I guess he was an "offensive mind" considering his background and the YA Tittle to Del Shofner combo was probably the best in the NFL in the early 60's. I find it a bit odd that Sherman wasn't able to find another coaching job after he left the Giants. He did have early success and was only 45 years old. But I've never read an account of an ex-player saying "I really liked Allie Sherman"...most things I've read put Sherman in a negative light.
Fran Tarkenton liked Allie. At least I got that idea from reading one of his books.
Sherman had a good part of a long term contract left when he was fired, so I guess that he really did not need another coaching job. He probably could have gotten a college coaching job if he wanted one. Also, Allie got a pretty lucrative job with the New York OTB later on. I don't think that money was a problem for Allie Sherman.
As a head coach, I would not rate him with Vince, or Paul Brown, or Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, etc. (Could say that about most coaches). Like many pro football coaches, he ended up being fired and had some bad seasons, and some good ones. If you rate all of the coaches, then Allie Sherman is probably right in the middle somewhere.
As someone said here, he did outlive most of his critics.
