The college football world lost its second coaching legend in less than a week when former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors died Wednesday at the age of 85.
His death came days after Auburn’s Pat Dye succumbed to kidney disease at 80.
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A triple-threat tailback at the University of Tennessee, Majors was an All-American and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Paul Hornung in 1956.
After starting his head-coaching career at Iowa State, Majors moved to his alma mater for 16 seasons with a record of 116-62-8.
In 1973, he left to become coach at Pittsburgh and won a national championship in 1976 with a 12-0 record. He received national Coach-of-the-Year honors following that season.
In 1977, he returned to Knoxville as Tennessee’s head coach. Over a 15-year career, he led the Vols to three SEC championships (1985, ’89, ’90). He also won the Sugar Bowl in ’86 and ’91.
Among those NFL coaches who were assistants under Majors and grew from his coaching tree were: Jimmy Johnson, Jon Gruden, Al Saunders, and Dave Wannstedt.Joh
