Stydahar, Joseph L.
Football
b. March 17, 1912, Kaylor, PA
d. March 23, 1977
"Jumbo Joe" was 6-foot-4 and he weighed 230 pounds in his days as a professional tackle. A three-year starter at the University of West Virginia, he captained the team in 1935, his senior year. Somehow he was overlooked for All-America honors.
He joined the Chicago Bears after graduating in 1936 and immediately became a starter. Despite his size, he was unusually quick, and he could either overpower blockers or flash past them into the backfield.
Stydahar was named All-Pro left tackle for four consecutive seasons, 1937 through 1940. He played for four Western Division champions and two NFL champions, in 1940 and 1941. After the 1942 season, Stydahar served in the U. S. Navy and was named to the All-Service team in 1944, then went to sea for a year.
He returned to the Bears as a substitute tackle in 1946, when they won another NFL championship. After retiring as a player, he become the Los Angeles Rams line coach and succeeded Clark Shaughnessy as head coach in 1950. Ironically, the former tackle who was best known for his defensive play turned the Rams into one of the greatest passing teams ever. They lost to the Cleveland Browns, 30-28, in the 1950 NFL championship game but beat the Browns, 24-17, for the title the following year.
One of Stydahar's key moves in 1951 was to move Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch from running back to flanker. The new "three-end" offense soon became standard in the NFL.
Stydahar was fired after the Rams lost their opening game in 1952. He coached the Chicago Cardinals for two seasons, 1954-55, but won only one game each year. He then left football to run his corrugated box business--appropriately named "Big Bear."