Bobby Beathard, who spent greater than three a long time as an NFL govt, has died on the age of 86.
He died Monday from problems from Alzheimer’s illness at his dwelling in Franklin, Tennessee, his son Casey advised The Washington Submit.
A 2018 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee as a contributor, Beathard was a personnel govt for 5 groups in his profession, together with Tremendous Bowl champions in Miami and Washington. He was a part of 10 division winners and 4 Tremendous Bowl winners general, together with the 1972 Dolphins group that completed undefeated.
His best success occurred in Washington, the place he served as common supervisor from 1978 to 1988. Beathard employed coach Joe Gibbs in 1981 and drafted Corridor of Famers Artwork Monk, Russ Grimm and Darrell Inexperienced. Washington gained the Tremendous Bowl in 1982 and 1987.
Relaxation in peace, Bobby ? pic.twitter.com/KPauvZdmU2
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 1, 2023
After leaving Washington, Beathard served as common supervisor for the Chargers from 1990 to 1999. Although Beathard was criticized for choosing draft bust quarterback Ryan Leaf with the No. 2 general choice in 1998 and buying and selling away first-round picks, he helped flip the Chargers round. In his third season as common supervisor, the Chargers gained their first division title since 1981. They made the franchise’s solely Tremendous Bowl look through the 1994 season, dropping to the San Francisco 49ers.
“Bobby was among the best judges of soccer expertise in NFL historical past. For many, that alone could be sufficient. For Bobby Beathard, it would not practically do the person justice,” Chargers proprietor Dean Spanos mentioned in an announcement. “Bobby was who all of us aspire to be — a pleasant, caring, giving, considerate human being who introduced folks from all walks of life collectively. He was the perfect GM in soccer; however he was additionally the man sitting on his surfboard within the ocean that you simply caught waves with, jogged trails alongside and chatted up within the check-out line of the native market. He was the man you felt such as you’d recognized your whole life, even when it wasn’t however for 5 minutes on the gasoline station. He was only a common man who occurred to be something however.
“Bobby was, in actual fact, distinctive. He was one-of-a-kind. And he will likely be extremely missed. On behalf of my household and the Chargers group, we need to prolong our deepest condolences to his spouse, Christine, and your complete Beathard household on the lack of among the best to ever do it, be it soccer or life.”
Beathard served as director of participant personnel for Miami’s Tremendous Bowl-winning groups in 1972 and 1973. He additionally labored for Kansas Metropolis and Atlanta earlier than becoming a member of Miami.
He retired from soccer in 2000, and he’s a member of the Ring of Fame for each the Commanders and Chargers.
Beathard was the grandfather of quarterback C.J. Beathard, who entered the NFL with the 49ers in 2017 and performed for the Jacksonville Jaguars final season.