Walt Corey

Walter Martin Corey (May 9, 1938 – October 23, 2022) was an American professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker for seven seasons in the American Football League (AFL) before coaching in the National Football League (NFL) for 28 seasons.

Walt Corey
No. 56
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1938-05-09)May 9, 1938
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Died:October 23, 2022(2022-10-23) (aged 84)
Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Career information
High school:Derry Area (PA)
College:Miami (FL)
Undrafted:1960
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× AFL champion (1962, 1966)
  • AFL All-Star (1963)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:69
Interceptions:4
Player stats at NFL.com
Coaching stats at PFR

Corey played college football for the University of Miami, and then played for the Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL from 1960 to 1966. He was an AFL All-Star in 1963 and a member of the AFL champions in 1962 and 1966. Corey then served as head coach of the Omaha Mustangs, a defensive coach at the collegiate level for the University of Miami and Utah State University, for the Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints of the NFL, as well as the Memphis Maniax of the XFL.

Early life

Corey, the youngest of 16 children,[1] was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, on May 9, 1938.[2] He attended Derry Township High School in nearby Cooperstown. He then studied at the University of Miami,[2] where he played linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes.[3] Undrafted in the 1960 NFL Draft,[3][4] Corey signed as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League (AFL).[5]

Playing career

Corey signed with the Dallas Texans (now Kansas City Chiefs) as undrafted free agent. With the team, he was an AFL All-Star in 1963.[6] At the end of the 1966 season, the Chiefs appeared in the first Super Bowl;[7] Corey announced his retirement after the season to begin a coaching career.

Coaching career

Corey was hired as the head coach with the Omaha Mustangs of the Professional Football League of America.[8] Before the 1967 season, he was hired to the defensive coaching staff for Utah State University in Logan.[9] In 1968, he represented Utah State as a defensive backs coach at the North–South Shrine Game.[10] Corey was hired to be the Miami Hurricanes' defensive coordinator in 1970,[11] and to coach the offensive backfield in 1971.[12][13]

In 1971, the Kansas City Chiefs hired Corey as a defensive coach.[14] After the 1974 season, the Cleveland Browns hired Corey as their linebacker and strength coach.[15] After three seasons with Cleveland, Corey returned to the Chiefs as their linebacker coach for the 1978 season.[16] After coaching Kansas City's defensive line for two years, he became their defensive backs coach.[17] In 1983, new Chiefs head coach John Mackovic named Corey his first hire for his coaching staff,[18] assigning him to coach the defensive line.[19] In 1986, Mackovic promoted Corey to defensive coordinator.[20]

Corey followed former Chiefs head coach Marv Levy to the Buffalo Bills in 1987. He coached there until the 1994 season, when the Bills finished a disappointing 7–9, and Corey was fired.[21] Corey was Buffalo's defensive coordinator for Buffalo's four consecutive AFC Championship teams from 1990 to 1993. He was also the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints under head coach Mike Ditka, from 1997 to 1999. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach of the Memphis Maniax of the XFL in 2001, its only season.[22][23]

Personal life

Corey and his wife, Jane, had two children.[21] Corey died on October 23, 2022, at age 84.[4]

See also

References
  1. Reporter, Mark Gaughan News Sports. "Walt Corey, defensive coordinator for Bills' four Super Bowl teams, dies at age 84". The Buffalo News. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  2. "Walt Corey Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  3. Brown, Chris (October 25, 2022). "Former Bills remember long-time defensive coordinator Walt Corey". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  4. Moore, Bob (October 25, 2022). "Defensive Stalwart and Former Coach Walt Corey Passes Away". Kansas City Chiefs. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. "Walt Corey, defensive coordinator for Bills' four Super Bowl teams, dies at age 84". The Buffalo News. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  6. "The Indianapolis Star 19 Jan 1964, page Page 59". Newspapers.com. January 19, 1964. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. "Honolulu Star-Bulletin 15 Jan 1967, page 60". Newspapers.com. January 15, 1967. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  8. "Hartford Courant 13 Jul 1967, page Page 64". Newspapers.com. July 13, 1967. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  9. "Latrobe Bulletin 16 Sep 1967, page 11". Newspapers.com. September 16, 1967. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  10. "The Herald-Journal 18 Jul 1969, page 5". Newspapers.com. July 18, 1969. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  11. "Corey resigns at USU, goes to Miami". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). May 12, 1970. p. C1.
  12. "The Miami Herald 08 Feb 1971, page 79". Newspapers.com. February 8, 1971. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  13. Hill, Bob (October 24, 1987). "Offerdahl Gets the Right Kind of Break". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 10C. ProQuest 389542047. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  14. "Chicago Tribune 19 Sep 1971, page 59". Newspapers.com. September 19, 1971. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  15. "The Kansas City Times 04 Feb 1975, page 28". Newspapers.com. February 4, 1975. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  16. "The Kansas City Times 07 Jan 1978, page 62". Newspapers.com. January 7, 1978. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  17. "The Charlotte Observer 20 Jan 1981, page 29". Newspapers.com. January 20, 1981. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  18. "The Salina Journal 12 Feb 1983, page Page 12". Newspapers.com. February 12, 1983. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  19. "The Salina Journal 20 Feb 1983, page Page 42". Newspapers.com. February 20, 1983. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  20. "The Manhattan Mercury 14 Jan 1986, page 10". Newspapers.com. January 14, 1986. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  21. "Corey Out as Defensive Coordinator Dismissal Comes After Butler, Levy Meet with Wilson".
  22. "A Glimpse Inside Paris Lenon". Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  23. "Football Operations". all-xfl.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
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