Kay Stephenson

George Kay Stephenson (born December 17, 1944) is an American former college and professional football player and current coach, whose latter career has seen him work in four different professional leagues. Stephenson played quarterback for the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He finished his playing career in 1974 in the World Football League with the Jacksonville Sharks before entering the coaching ranks.

Kay Stephenson
No. 18
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1944-12-17) December 17, 1944
DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Pensacola (Pensacola, Florida)
College:Florida
Undrafted:1967
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season:NFL: 10–26 (.278)
CFL: 36–35–1 (.507)
WLAF: 11–9 (.550)
Postseason:CFL: 2–2 (.500)
WLAF: 2–0 (1.000)
Career:NFL: 10–26 (.278)
CFL: 38–37–1 (.507)
WLAF: 13–9 (.591)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR

Early life

Stephenson was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida in 1944, and grew up in nearby Pensacola. He attended Pensacola High School, and he earned All-State accolades as a quarterback. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Ray Graves from 1964 to 1966.[1] His arrival on the Florida campus coincided with that of another standout recruit, Steve Spurrier, who became the starting quarterback in 1964, and who won the Heisman Trophy in 1966. Stephenson remained a backup.

Stephenson graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1967.

Professional football coaching career

After serving as a quarterbacks coach the previous season, Stephenson succeeded Chuck Knox as Buffalo Bills head coach on February 3, 1983.[2][3] Stephenson was reportedly surprised to get the job, claiming that Bills owner Ralph Wilson "never explained his reasons for selecting me."[2] Under Stephenson, the Bills went 8-8 in 1983,[4] 2-14 in 1984,[5] and after they lost their first four games in 1985, Stephenson was replaced by Hank Bullough.[4] Perhaps the most lasting impression that Stephenson left on the Bills was changing their helmet color from white to red prior to the 1984 season, insisting that the change would aid Buffalo quarterbacks in finding receivers downfield. At the time, three of the Bills' four division rivals, the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins, wore white helmets. The gambit didn't work as interceptions actually increased the subsequent season.[6]

Stephenson also coached in the World League where he led the Sacramento Surge to the 1992 World Bowl championship, and in the Canadian Football League he coached the San Antonio Texans and the Edmonton Eskimos.

Head coaching record

NFL
TeamYearRegular SeasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
BUF1983 880.5003rd in AFC East––––
BUF1984 2140.1255th in AFC East––––
BUF1985 040.0005th in AFC East––––
BUF Total10260.278–––
NFL Total10260.278–––

WLAF
TeamYearRegular SeasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
SAC1991 370.3003rd in NA West––––
SAC1992 820.8001st in NA West201.000World Bowl II champions
SAC Total1190.579201.000
WLAF Total1190.579201.000

CFL
TeamYearRegular SeasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
SAC1993 6120.3335th in CFL West––––
SAC1994 981.5285th in CFL West––––
SAC Total15201.431–––
SAT1995 1260.6672nd in CFL South11.500Lost to Baltimore Stallions in Division Finals
SAT Total1260.66711.500
EDM1998 990.5002nd in CFL West11.500Lost to Calgary Stampeders in Division Finals
EDM Total990.50011.500
CFL Total36351.50722.500
gollark: Hmm. I'll try that.
gollark: People always ignore the s.
gollark: Yep. `CB or lowtime hatchlings`.
gollark: My red dino egg has had *so* much weird stuff offered on it:- tiny amounts of random hatchings- CB xenowyrm, CB gemshard- 2 4d1h alt vinesI can never get anything I actually *want*.
gollark: Hopefully not.

See also

References
  1. 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 185 (2011). Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  2. At a Glance: 1983, Relentless: The Hard-Hitting History of Buffalo Bills Football, Sal Maiorana, 1994
  3. The Month of February In Bills History Archived March 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1983 Buffalo Bills, History of Pro Football in Western New York
  5. 1984 Buffalo Bills, History of Pro Football in Western New York
  6. Fun and Fashion on the Gridiron, Paul Lukas, ESPN.com Page 2
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.