Jim_Wagstaff

Jim Wagstaff

Jim Wagstaff

American football player and coach (1936–2010)

Jim Wagstaff (June 12, 1936 — September 28, 2010) was an American professional football player and coach. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL). He was later an assistant coach.

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Wagstaff played college football for Idaho State Bengals. He played in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals before joining the AFL's Buffalo Bills. He earned second-team All-AFL honors in 1960. After his playing career, he was a defensive coordinator in college for the Boise State Broncos before becoming a secondary coach in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and San Diego Chargers

Early life and high school

Wagstaff was born and grew up in American Falls, Idaho and attended American Falls High School.[1]

College career

Wagstaff was a member of the Idaho State Bengals for four seasons, joining the team as a walk-on. He played quarterback, halfback and defensive back. He was named All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior. Wagstaff was also a four-year member of the Idaho State track team.[2]

Professional career

Wagstaff was selected in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions but was cut during training camp. He took a high school coaching position in Idaho and was invited to Lions camp for a second straight season but was cut a second time after suffering a knee injury.[3] Wagstaff was teaching until was signed by the Chicago Cardinals in November of the 1959 season after the team suffered numerous injuries at the defensive back position and played in two games.[4] He was re-signed by the Cardinals at the end of the season, but was cut on August 1, 1960.[5]

Shortly after being released by the Cardinals, Wagstaff was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the newly-formed American Football League.[6] Wagstaff was named All-AFL in his first season with the Bills after intercepting six passes and returning one for a touchdown. He intercepted three passes in 1961. Wagstaff retired from playing football after suffering a severe injury during training camp in 1962.[3][7]

Coaching career and later life

After his playing career ended, Wagstaff earned a masters degree in education from Utah State University. After teaching and coaching football at Pocatello High and then Idaho Falls High, he was hired as the defensive coordinator at Boise State. Wagstaff was hired as the Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach in 1973. He was hired by the Bills in 1978, where he remained until he was hired away by the San Diego Chargers in 1981.[8][9] After leaving coaching Wagstaff moved back to Idaho before moving to Kenai, Alaska, where he became the head football coach at Kenai Central High School. Wagstaff died on September 28, 2010.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    O'Donnell, Michael H. (September 8, 2013). "Fan-tastic obsession: Couple attends all but 1 ISU home football game since 1970". Idaho State Journal.
  2. [2]
    "The Assistants". Boise State College 1970 Press Book. 1970. p. 5.
  3. [3]
    Miller, Jeffrey J. (2007). Rockin' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. ECW Press. ISBN 9781550227970.
  4. [4]
    "Chicago Picks Up Jim Wagstaff For Added Defensive Strength". Idaho State Journal. NewspaperArchive.com. November 4, 1959.
  5. [5]
    "Wagstaff Signs With St. Louis Cards in NFL". Idaho State Journal. May 13, 1960. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.
  6. [6]
    Bailey, Budd. "Jim Wagstaff" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  7. [7]
    "James Burke Wagstaff Obituary". coltrinmortuary.com.
  8. [8]
    Gehman, Jim (2007). Then Levy Said to Kelly--: The Best Buffalo Bills Stories Ever Told. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781600780554. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  9. [9]
    "The San Diego Chargers have named Jim Wagstaff, 44,..." United Press International. February 10, 1981. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
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