CINCINNATI — Forrest Gregg, the coach who led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance, has died, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was 85.
Gregg only spent four seasons with the Bengals, from 1980 to 1983, but it was a time that fans still remember fondly. In 1982, Gregg's second season as head coach, the Bengals took the AFC Conference championship in the so-called "Freezer Bowl," the coldest NFL game in history.
That victory sent the Bengals to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers 26-21, but that was the result of a comeback from a 20-0 deficit after the first half.
Gregg personally scouted and drafted future Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz telling Bengals owner Paul Brown, "Anthony Munoz will be one of the best offensive tackles ever to play the game," according to the Hall of Fame.
Gregg personally attended a two-hour workout at the University of Southern California's practice field to watch Muñoz after his senior season. Because of multiple knee injuries, Muñoz played just one full game his senior season. But Gregg selected him third overall in the 1980 NFL Draft.
"I just remembered he would demand hard work but he would also appreciate it," Muñoz told WCPO Friday morning. " I just loved the guy. I loved playing for him. He had so many great qualities as far as leadership."
Prior to arriving in Cincinnati in 1980, the Bengals were 4-12 in 1978 and '79. The Bengals went 6-10 in 1980 but could've easily been 10-6 after losing some games late. The transformation had begun.
"You could see the tide turning," Muñoz said. "...The guy came in with a phenomenal plan to turn it around."
Gregg's time with the Bengals came in the middle of an 11-season span as head coach that also saw him leading the Cleveland Browns (1975-77) and Green Bay Packers (1984-87). But he first came to prominence as an offensive tackle, playing for the Packers in 1956 and from 1958 to '70, and playing one season for Dallas in 1971.
During Gregg's career as a player, he was named All-NFL for eight straight seasons, played in nine Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls.
Vince Lombardi described Gregg as “the best player I ever coached.”
"That is like the highest of high compliments," Muñoz said.
Gregg was a member of six NFL/NFC championship teams and three Super Bowl winners. Gregg was also elected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s and the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
"The game lost a giant today," Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said in a written statement. "Forrest Gregg exemplified greatness during a legendary career that earned him a bronzed bust in Canton."
"He was the type of player who led by example and, in doing so, raised the level of play of all those around him. "Forrest symbolized many great traits and virtues that can be learned from this game to inspire people from all walks of life."
Muñoz said he had most recently seen Gregg at the hall of fame induction weekend in Canton in 2017.
Gregg was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011. He became the spokesperson for “Parkinson’s More than Motion,” a community of outlets and resources including a strong presence on Facebook where patients share their experiences online and includes a series of online videos aimed to educate the public on the motor and non-motor symptoms of the disease.
https://www.wcpo.com/sports/football/bengals/forrest-gregg-coach-who-led-bengals-to-first-super-bowl-dead-at-85
2019-04-12 14:23:00Z
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