Former Chiefs coach Howard Mudd has died from extensive injuries in a motorcycle accident.
The NFL lost a coaching legend on Wednesday when the news broke that Howard Mudd had passed away.
The longtime assistant coach was considered a genius for his ability to coach up an offensive line, and after such an extensive playing and coaching career, it’s clear that Mudd is going to be sorely missed by so many former and current players and coaches in the NFL.
Mudd played for seven years, from 1964 to 1970, with the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears. After that, he began a storied coaching career that would begin two years later as an offensive line coach for the California Golden Bears. From there, he would leap to the professional level with the San Diego Chargers for their o-line needs. He would coach that same position at the highest level for the next 38 years.
The Kansas City Chiefs were among the teams who were fortunate enough to have employed Mudd over the years. He served as the team’s offensive line coach from 1989 to 1992 and it was clear he made a significant impact on his players in those years. Here’s Tim Grunhard‘s response.
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In his first season in Kansas City, working with running backs coach Bruce Arians, the Chiefs own Christian Okoye would lead the league in carries with 370 and rushing yards with 1,480. Okoye would make two Pro Bowls under Mudd’s guidance, and Barry Word would also emerge with a 1,000-plus yard season in 1990.
The ability of the Chiefs to put up such strong rushing totals was due to the strength of the line up front. Mudd was the coach during John Alt‘s prime seasons in K.C., and for the initial seasons of Dave Szott and Grunhard as well.
In the end, Mudd coached for the Chargers and Chiefs as well as numerous other teams: the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles. He also helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI against the Bears in 2007.