By Darin How does a boy from a six-man football town in Texas become the only man to coach in the NFL, USFL, WFL, and NCAA? Jack Pardee didn’t just play football; he conquered every obstacle the game—and life—threw his way. A member of the legendary “Junction Boys” under Bear Bryant, Pardee was a two-way force who earned All-American honors at two different positions. From surviving the most brutal training camp in history to staring down a cancer diagnosis at the peak of his career, Jack Pardee’s journey is a masterclass in grit, determination, and tactical brilliance.
Football Bio
April 19, 1936 – Exira, Iowa – Jack Pardee, the Texas A&M two-way fullback/linebacker, was born. Pardee had enough passion to overcome odds throughout his life.
Early on, living in a remote part of Texas, Jack’s experience with the gridiron was only afforded the luxury of playing 6-man football. With hard work and hustle, the youngster soon found himself as a two-way starter for A&M. The National Football Foundation claims that as a 20-year-old senior in 1956, he was co-captain of an undefeated team, Academic All-America, picked by the Southwest Conference as all-league linebacker and by Look Magazine as All-America fullback. One of his highlight-reel plays was an 85-yard run against Houston. The Aggies coach at the time, Bear Bryant, in 1956, proclaimed, “Jack Pardee is the best linebacker I ever had.”
Jack Pardee was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 after the National Football Foundation tallied its votes. Jack went on to make it in the NFL, spending eight great seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, before, on his 28th birthday, he received devastating news. The doctors had told him that he was diagnosed with cancer! Though this was indeed life-altering information, it did not stop Jack.
Pardee played another 7 seasons in the NFL with the Rams and Washington, and then went on to a coaching career! He looked right in the eyes of cancer and not only played while fighting the disease but also coached the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears, and teams in the World and U. S. Football Leagues. He became head coach at the University of Houston for the 1987 season and, at his first meeting, told the players, “There is a time to work and a time to play. Don’t miss your chance to do both.” Pardee coached three years at the University of Houston, 1987-89, with a record of 22-11-1, then returned to pro football as coach of the Houston Oilers. Now that is a determined gridiron man if I have ever heard of one!
Conclusion
Jack Pardee’s legacy is defined by a rare versatility that saw him excel as an elite player and a revolutionary coach. One of the few survivors of Bear Bryant’s infamous Junction, Texas, training camp, he carried that toughness into an NFL career that saw him become an All-Pro linebacker and a cancer survivor. As a coach, he brought the explosive “Run & Shoot” offense to the forefront of football, turning the University of Houston and the Houston Oilers into offensive juggernauts. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, Pardee remains a symbol of the “Junction Boy” spirit—unbreakable, unrelenting, and forever a student of the game.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1986.
- Junction Boy: One of the few players to endure and finish Bear Bryant’s 1954 training camp.
- All-America Fullback: Named by Look Magazine in 1956.
- All-Southwest Conference Linebacker: 1956.
- Academic All-America: 1956.
- NFL All-Pro: 1963.
- NFL Coach of the Year: 1979 (Washington Redskins).
- Revolutionary Strategist: Popularized the “Run & Shoot” offense at the collegiate and pro levels.
- Elite Coaching Fraternity: One of the few to hold head coaching positions in the NFL, USFL, WFL, and NCAA.
- Houston Oilers Coach: Led the “Luv Ya Blue” era successors to seven consecutive playoff appearances (as an assistant and head coach).
