Hank Bullough

Henry Charles Bullough (January 24, 1934 – November 24, 2019)[1] was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Michigan State and graduated in 1954. Bullough was a starting guard for the Spartans team that won the 1954 Rose Bowl. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the 53rd pick in the fifth round of the 1955 NFL Draft.

Hank Bullough
No. 67, 61
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1934-01-24)January 24, 1934
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:November 24, 2019(2019-11-24) (aged 85)
Haslett, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Timken (OH)
College:Michigan State (1951-1954)
NFL Draft:1955 / Round: 5 / Pick: 53
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career NFL statistics
Games played:20
Games started:0
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Coaching career

Bullough's first coaching position was at his alma mater, Michigan State, where he served for 11 seasons. In 1970, he became linebackers coach for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) under head coach Don McCafferty.

As defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots in the 1970s[2] Bullough is credited, along with his college teammate Chuck Fairbanks, with having been a significant figure in bringing the 3–4 defense to the NFL. After Fairbanks was suspended prior to the final game of the 1978 season, Bullough's and fellow assistant Ron Erhardt were named co-head coaches for the remainder of the season. After the season, Patriots owner Billy Sullivan appointed Erhardt head coach instead of Bullough. Bullough would remain defensive coordinator for one more season with the Patriots.

In 1980, new Cincinnati Bengals head coach and former Green Bay Packers teammate, Forrest Gregg wooed Bullough to install the 3–4 defensive system in Cincinnati.[3] Two seasons later the Bengals would go to the Super Bowl where they fell just short against the San Francisco 49ers. While with the Bengals, Bullough also tutored Dick LeBeau who, not only would succeed Bullough as defensive coordinator but, is credited as the innovator of the 3–4 zone blitz scheme.

Bullough followed Gregg to the Green Bay Packers as defensive coordinator in 1984. Before the season began, he was let out of his contract to become the head coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL).[4] The Maulers folded later that year, before Bullough ever coached a game.[5]

He then moved on to the Buffalo Bills, where he replaced Kay Stephenson for the final 12 games of the 1985 season and remained head coach for the first nine games of the 1986 season before being fired.

Personal life

Bullough was married to his wife of 49 years Lou Ann Bullough and they had three children together, Cheryl, Shane, and Chuck, and nine grandchildren, Corey, Kristi, Jake, Max, Riley, Byron, Holly, Chloe and Annika.

Head coaching record
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
NE^1978 010.0001st in AFC East––––
NE Total010.000–––
BUF1985 2100.1675th in AFC East––––
BUF1986 270.2224th in AFC East––––
BUF Total4170.190–––
Total[6]4180.182–––

^ Co-coach with Ron Erhardt

References
  1. "Michigan State football legend Hank Bullough dies at age 85". 25 November 2019.
  2. Making the switch to 3–4 defense is an old trick for Patriots, Boston Globe, September 5, 2003
  3. , "The Daily Sentinel", January 17, 1980
  4. "Maulers to Name Coach". The New York Times. May 24, 1984. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. "Maulers Fold". The New York Times. October 26, 1984. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  6. Hank Bullough Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks - Pro-Football-Reference.com
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