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Former Washington Washington Football Team Coach Joe Bugel passes away June 28, 2020, at the age of 80. Bugel, often hailed as one of the best offensive line coaches in the history of the league, coached in the NFL for 32 years.

Bugel was born March 10, 1940 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A two-way football star at Munhall High School, he was later inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He began his NFL coaching career as an assistant on the Detroit Lions’ staff in 1975. He then moved on to the Houston Oiler’s staff in 1977. Bugel joined the Washington Football Team’s staff under the Hall of Fame Washington Football Team Head Coach Joe Gibbs as Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach in 1981. He was promoted to Assistant Head Coach in 1983, a title he held until 1990 when he left DC to be one the head coach of the then-Phoenix Cardinals. Bugel then returned to the nation’s capitol in 2004 for the 2nd Joe Gibbs era as an assistant head coach for the Washington Football Team until his retirement in 2009.

“Joe had an incredible passion for the game of football. He came to work every day with such great excitement and his players had tremendous respect for him. The strength of our coaching staff on both sides of the ball was a key reason we had so much success. Bugel was such a big part of that and his impact was felt not only by those Washington Football Team’s teams, but truly across the entire League. I will miss his friendship and I will always cherish our late-night arguments putting together the game plan each week. Pat and I will be praying for his wife Brenda, his girls, and their entire family,” said Joe Gibbs.

Bugel was architect of the Washington Football Team’s dominate “Hogs” offensive line that paved the way to two Super Bowl titles (1982, 1987) and 3 total trips in the 1980’s. He was also responsible for the development of Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Jeff Bostic and George Starke. These “Hogs” anchors appeared in a combined 10 Pro Bowls including 4 each by Grimm and Jacoby.

From 1981-1989, Bugel helped lead a Washington Football Team offense that produced 9-1,000 yard receivers, 4-1,000 yard rushers and a 4,000 yard passer. In 1983, the year he was promoted to Assistant Head Coach, the Washington Football Team scored a then-NFL record 541 points. During his first tenure in DC, the Washington Football Team were 92-48 in the regular season and 11-3 in the playoffs.

Bugel was hired by the then-Phoenix Cardinals to be their head coach in 1990. He would head the Cardinals for four seasons before joining the Oakland Raiders as assistant head coach/offense from 1995-96 and head coach in 1997. He also coached the San Diego Chargers’ O-Line from 1998-2001.

While Bugel’s second stint in DC, was not as successful from a championship perspective, he was still influential in development of OT Chris Samuels. The eventual 6-time Pro Bowler went to four consecutive under Bugel’s tutelage. The Washington Football Team O-Line also paved the way for 1,000 yard rushers for 5 consecutive seasons. In 2006, Washington only allowed 19 sacks, which was third best in the NFL.

“I am absolutely devastated by the news of Joe’s passing. Joe was a larger than life figure and a true legend of his profession. He exemplified what it meant to be a Redskin with his character and ability to connect with his players along with a work ethic that was unmatched. We shared a special bond and he was a great friend. He was a man who not only gave me a better understanding of the game of football, but who also gave me perspective on what is truly important in life. I absolutely adored him and will miss him terribly. Tanya and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Brenda and the entire Bugel family during this time,” said Washington Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder.

Bugel is survived by his wife, Brenda and daughters Angie and Jennifer. He was proceeded in death by his daughter, Holly.

Joe Bugel, Legendary Architect of ‘The Hogs,’ Dead at 80  was originally published on theteam980.com