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ESPN Article On Ted Marchibroda
DETROIT (1/17/2016) -- Former University of Detroit standout quarterback and Titan Hall Of Famer Ted Marchibroda passed away on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the age of 84.
A U-D legend on the gridiron, who went onto a great coaching career in the NFL, Marchibroda was inducted into the Titan Hall of Fame in 1983. He is also a member of Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor, the St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame and the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Ted Marchibroda (R) at his Hall Of Fame induction in 1983
alongside former AD Brad KinsmanHe started his college career at St. Bonaventure before transferring to Detroit, where he led the nation in total offense as a quarterback with 1,813 yards passing in 1952. He also set the national single-game mark with 390 yards passing against Tulsa that same year.
He would leave Detroit holding 12 school passing records and was the number one draft choice of Pittsburgh in 1952 as the Steelers selected him with the fifth overall pick.
Marchibroda served in the US Army in 1954, and when he returned to the Steelers, he was part of a quarterback depth chart that included Johnny Unitas. He finished his NFL career with 16 touchdowns and 2,169 passing yards.
He then embarked on a great coaching career in the NFL, where he was the head coach of the Baltimore Colts (1975–1979), Indianapolis Colts (1992–1995) and Baltimore Ravens (1996–1998). When he took over the Baltimore Colts, he had immediate success leading the squad to three-straight AFC East titles.
Marchibroda was also the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills and helped install the hurray-up offense, known as the K-Gun at the time, and that philosophy helped steer the Bills to four-straight Super Bowl appearances.
He is survived by his wife, Ann; daughters Jodi and Lonni; sons Ted Jr. and Robert and six grandchildren.
