Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Mike Ditka may have been the coach of a rival team, but I had the utmost respect for him, and I wish his family all the best. He lived a fantastic life and his family should be proud of it.

His life was one full with football: first as a tight end, then as a head coach, then as an announcer. And it got me thinking, what men in NFL history have contributed in three different ways to the league? For example, John Madden, the prime example. First a coach, then an announcer, then a video game guy. And it's the third of those three that Madden's name is most known for! Or George S. Halas or Curly Lambeau. They were both players, coaches, and owners (well, kind of with Lambeau).

So, can you think of others who have done the same? Ditka's legacy is so wide-ranging that he touched nearly every football fan. There are not too many people in pro football history who can say the same.

Al Davis.

Bucko Kilroy: All-decade player, scout who brought in HOFers in every stop, executive who advanced player personnel evaluation systems, and co-founder of the national Football Scouting Combine.

Tom Flores, Decent QB, very good coach, then he became an announcer

Herm Edwards.

He wasnt a coach but we have to keep Bernie Parrish in mind. Very good player, vice-president of the players association--who also tried to get the players to unite with the teamster's union--author and critic of the NFL owners and front office practices. Wrote the definitive book about ownership greed that resonates to this very day. Used his own personal business fortune to take up player causes and fights against labor issues and the NFL taking advantage of player pensions, names, imaging and usage rights. The ultimate player advocate who is forgotten.