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LaVern Torgeson

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For the American Football League player, seeLaverne Torczon.
LaVern Torgeson
No. 53
Position:Linebacker,center
Personal information
Born:(1929-02-28)February 28, 1929
La Crosse, Washington,U.S.
Died:March 20, 2015(2015-03-20)(aged 86)
Huntington Beach, California,U.S.
Career information
College:Washington State
NFL draft:1951/ round:5/ pick: 58
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:82
Interceptions:18
Touchdowns:1
Player stats atPFR
Coaching stats atPFR

LaVern Earl "Torgy" Torgeson(February 28, 1929 – March 20, 2015) was anAmerican footballplayer and coach. He playedcollege footballforWashington Statefrom1948through1950.Torgeson played professionally in theNational Football League(NFL) for seven seasons, principally as alinebacker,for theDetroit Lionsfrom 1951 to 1954 and for theWashington Redskinsfrom1955to1957.[1]

After retiring as a player, Torgeson worked for 35 years from 1959 to 1993 as an assistant coach in the NFL. His coaching positions included stints with the Washington Redskins (1959–1961, 1971–1977, 1981–1993),Pittsburgh Steelers(1962–1968), andLos Angeles Rams(1969–1970, 1978–1980). He was a coach on threeSuper Bowlchampionship teams in1982,1987,and1991.As a player and coach, he spent 42 years in the NFL, 26 of them with the Redskins.

Early life

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Torgeson was born inLa Crosse, Washington,a small town in the eastern part of the state, and attended La Crosse High School,[2]and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.[1]

College football

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After graduating from high school in 1947, Torgeson enrolled at nearbyWashington State CollegeinPullman,where he playedcollege footballon theCougars' varsity from 1948 through 1950.[3][4]He played on both offense as a center and on defense as a linebacker.[5]Torgeson was the team captain in 1950,[4]and he was selected by theAssociated Press(AP) as the first-team center on theAll-Coast team.[6][7]

The morning of Torgeson's final game as a Cougar, the annualrivalry gamewithWashingtoninSpokane,his younger brother Robert, a sophomore at Washington State, died fromcarbon monoxide poisoningwhile sleeping in a parked car after traveling from Pullman to watch the game.[8][9][10]

Professional football

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Torgeson was selected by theDetroit Lionsin thefifth round(58th overall pick) of the1951 NFL draft.[2]As a rookie, he appeared in all 12 games for the Lions, playing at both the linebacker and center positions.[2]From 1952 to 1954, he played at the right linebacker position for the Lions. During the Lions' NFL championship seasons in 1952 and 1953, he had ten interceptions, including a 31-yard interception return for touchdown against theLos Angeles Ramson October 19, 1952.[11]

In late January1955,the Lions traded Torgeson and Jim Hill to theWashington Redskinsin exchange forWalt YowarskyandJim Ricca.[12][13]Torgeson played for the Redskins from 1955 to 1957, appearing in 35 games.[2]He was released by the team in September1958.[14]

Coaching career

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In September1959,Toregson announced that he was retiring as a player and had been hired as an assistant coach with the Redskins.[15]He was with the Redskins from 1959 to 1961.

In January 1962, Torgeson left the Redskins to become an assistant coach with thePittsburgh Steelersunder his former Lions head coachBuddy Parker.[16]He remained with the Steelers from 1962 to 1968.

In February 1969, Torgeson was hired by theLos Angeles Ramsas their defensive line coach under head coachGeorge Allen.He remained with the Rams for the 1969 and 1970 seasons. In those two years under Allen and Torgeson, the Rams compiled a 20–7–1 record.

In 1971, Allen left the Rams to become head coach of theWashington Redskins.Torgeson followed Allen and became the Redskins'defensive coordinatorfrom 1971 to 1977.[17]During seven seasons under Allen and Torgeson, the Redskins compiled a 67–30–1 record; they won the conference title in1972(but lostSuper Bowl VIIto theMiami Dolphinsin January 1973).

In February 1978, Allen returned to the Los Angeles Rams, and Torgeson followed him as an assistant coach,[18]but Allen was fired in mid-August.[19][20]Torgeson remained with the Rams under newly-promoted head coachRay Malavasifor three years, through the 1980 season. They compiled a 12–4 record in1978,won the NFC championship in1979(but lostSuper Bowl XIVin January 1980), and were 11–5 in1980.

In February1981,Torgeson returned to the Redskins as defensive line coach.[21]He remained with the Redskins for 13 years, through the1993season. He was an assistant under head coachesJoe Gibbsfrom 1981 to 1992 andRichie Petitbonin 1993. During his tenure with the Redskins, the team wonSuper Bowl XVIIin 1983,Super Bowl XXIIin 1988, andSuper Bowl XXVIin 1992, and lostSuper Bowl XVIIIin 1984. WhenNorv Turnertook over as head coach of the Redskins in early 1994, Torgeson and several other assistant coaches were dismissed.[22]

Torgeson concluded his coaching career as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for theFrankfurt Galaxyin1996.[5]

Later years

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After retiring from coaching, Torgeson lived with his wife Nola (Carmichael) Torgeson inHuntington Beach, California.[3]In 1970, he was inducted into the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.[4]He was also inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.[23]Torgeson died in 2015 at age 86 in Huntington Beach.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^abcTorgeson, Ted (April 8, 2015)."LaVern Torgeson dies at 86".Whitman County Gazette.(Colfax, Washington). (obituary).RetrievedMarch 2,2020.
  2. ^abcde"LaVern Torgeson".Pro-Football-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
  3. ^ab"WSU and NFL star LaVern Torgeson dies".Scout.com.March 27, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 24,2023.
  4. ^abc"WSU Athletic Hall of Fame Members".Washington State University.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
  5. ^abDon Shelton (December 29, 1997)."Player Profile -- 'Torgy' Torgeson -- Torgeson Found Success As NFL Player, Coach".The Seattle Times.
  6. ^"Rose Bowl bound California Bears top All-Coast football consensus".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 6, 1950. p. 19.
  7. ^"Coast Stars Named By Platoon System".Idaho State Journal.December 5, 1950. p. 6.
  8. ^"WSC student asphyxiated; 2 are revived".Spokane Daily Chronicle.(Washington). November 25, 1950. p. 1.
  9. ^"Tragedy strikes player's family".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). November 26, 1950. p. 6.
  10. ^"Brother Lavern Torgeson, WSC Captain, Misses Finale: Tragedy Claims Cougar Hooper, Jolts Gridmen".The Oregon Statesman.November 26, 1950. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  11. ^Bob Latshaw (October 21, 1952)."Flanagan Holds Key to Victory: 2-Way Blocking Sets Up Torgeson Touchdown".Detroit Free Press.p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^Fullerton, Hugh Jr. (January 29, 1955)."Torgeson is traded, NFL changes rules".Spokesman-Review.(Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 9.
  13. ^Bob Latshaw (January 29, 1955)."Lions Trade Hill, Torgy to Redskins".Detroit Free Press.p. 11.
  14. ^"'Skins drop ex-Cougar ".Spokane Daily Chronicle.(Washington). September 24, 1958. p. 21.
  15. ^"Torgeson Chosen to Redskins Coaching Job".Shamokin (PA) News Dispatch.September 22, 1959. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  16. ^"Torgeson Joins Steeler Staff".The Daily News (Huntingdon, PA).January 23, 1962. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  17. ^"LaVern Torgeson Coaching Record".Pro-Football-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
  18. ^"Allen Names 6 Assistants at Los Angeles".The Des Moines Register.February 8, 1970. p. 4S – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  19. ^"Rams release George Allen".Youngstown Vindicator.(Ohio). Associated Press. August 14, 1978. p. 14.
  20. ^"LA's firing shocks Allen".Eugene Register-Guard.(Oregon). Associated Press. August 14, 1978. p. 1C.
  21. ^"for the record".Detroit Free Press.February 4, 1981. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  22. ^"Redskins fire Charley Taylor".The Star-Democrat.March 2, 1994. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^"Hall of Fame Categories: Football".State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame. Archived fromthe originalon March 11, 2016.RetrievedMarch 10,2016.
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