Steel Curtain coach honored by PFWA
Innovative defensive coach Bud Carson, the coordinator for the Steel Curtain who was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, has won the Dr. Z Award from the Professional Football Writers of America.
Carson, who died in 2005, entered the NFL as the defensive backs coach in Pittsburgh in 1972, and he was the Steelers’ defensive coordinator from 1973-77. During his time with the Steelers, he combined Pittsburgh’s front four with a complicated zone coverage in the secondary, which became known as Cover 2.
Carson also was the head coach at Georgia Tech and for the Cleveland Browns. He also was a coordinator with the Rams, Colts, Chiefs, Jets, and Eagles.
The Dr. Z Award, named after sports writer Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated, has been given out since 2014 to top assistant coaches.
Packers fan sues Bears over wear: One Green Bay Packers fan is going to court over a favorite Wisconsin pastime of disparaging the arch rival Chicago Bears.
Russell Beckman filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday accusing the Bears of violating his free-speech rights by prohibiting fans from wearing Packers apparel at Bears’ pregame warmups. He is seeking a court order lifting the ban.
Beckman lives in Mount Pleasant, Wis., near the Illinois state line and holds Bears seasons tickets. Season-ticket holders can attend certain pregame warmups on the sidelines.
The Bears sent Beckman an email before a December Bears-Packers game warning in capital letters, “NO OPPOSING TEAM GEAR WILL BE ALLOWED.” He went in Packers apparel anyway and was turned away.
The Bears didn’t respond to a message seeking comment Monday.
Former Jets’ LB dies: Former New York Jets outside linebacker Larry Grantham, a starter and defensive standout on the 1969 Super Bowl team, has died. He was 78.
The Jets announced Sunday night that a funeral service for Grantham will be held Wednesday in his hometown of Crystal Springs, Miss.
Grantham was an original member of the New York Titans franchise, which became the Jets in 1963 after three seasons. He was a five-time AFL All-Star during his 13 years with the team and was inducted into the Jets’ Ring of Honor in 2011.
Grantham had five interceptions and three fumble recoveries as a rookie in 1960, quickly establishing himself as a playmaker for the fledgling franchise. His 43 takeaways remain a franchise career record. He went on to play in 175 of the franchise’s first 182 games.
“That probably climaxes a career and doesn’t take second place to anything,” Grantham said at the time in quotes posted on the team’s website. “I’m not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and sure, that’s a great, big honor, but to me this honor with the Jets is unbelievable. Just think of all the players they’ve had up there from 1960 till now. It’s something I can’t put into words.”