Former Colts head coach Ted Marchibroda passes away

After his second stint with the Colts ended, Marchibroda went back to Baltimore, this time to serve as the Ravens’ first ever coach. Pagano has been sidelined on medical leave for three months with leukemia.

Ted Marchibroda, the former head coach of the Colts and Ravens, passed away Saturday. The Colts made the playoffs in each of his first three seasons with the team after winning the AFC Eastern Division three consecutive years from 1975-77.

The following season, Marchibroda became the first head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. He also coached the Colts in Indianapolis from 1992 to 1995, and he was a radio color commentator for the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2006. Another connection between the two legends: Marchibroda hired a 23-year-old Belichick in 1975 to be a special assistant with the Colts.

The graduate of Saint Bonaventure was a quarterback himself, and he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1953 NFL Draft.

The Ravens’ job was the last time Marchibroda worked in the NFL. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals from 1953 to 1957, sitting out in 1954 to serve in the Army. Per ESPN, he also coached as assistant for the Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. In 12 seasons as a head coach, Marchibroda was 87-98. Marchibroda finished his coaching career as head coach of the Ravens from 1996 to 1998. His best season as a coach came in 1976, when the Colts went 11-3.

After his playing career ended, he took a four-year sabbatical from the game before transitioning into coaching.

Marchibroda was inducted into the Colts ring of honor in 2000.

“We are extremely saddened and mourn the loss of Ted Marchibroda“, Colts owner and CEO Jim Irsay said in a statement.

“The guys like me who played for Ted here in Baltimore will always be tied together”.

Ted is survived by his wife Ann and his four children Ted Jr., Jodi, Lonni, and Robert.