Tom Catlin, Oklahoma Sooners' Star Who Also Coached In NFL, 76

[PyrateJohn]

Tom Catlin
Sooners' star also coached in NFL


Tom Catlin, 76, an offensive and defensive star for the University of
Oklahoma under Coach Bud Wilkinson who later spent 34 years as an
assistant coach in the National Football League for a variety of
teams
including the Rams and Seahawks, died Saturday at a hospice in
Seattle
of complications stemming from recent surgery, said his brother
Charles. Catlin also was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.


The son of an oil refinery engineer, Catlin grew up in Ponca City,
Oklahoma. He played center and linebacker at Oklahoma from 1950 to
1952, and was a member of the Sooners' 1950 squad that won the
national championship.


Catlin was drafted by the then Baltimore [Maryland] Colts and later
played with the Cleveland [Ohio] Browns and Philadelphia
[Pennsylvanin] Eagles before finishing his playing career.


A defensive specialist as a coach, Catlin worked for the Dallas
[Texas] Texans and Kansas City [Missouri] Chiefs of the old American
Football League and then the Rams [Los Angeles, California], Buffalo
[New York] Bills and Seahawks [Seattle, Washington]. He coached for
Seattle from 1983 to 1995, and Sports Illustrated named him as coach
of the year for the 1992 season. It was the first time the magazine
had named an assistant coach for the honor.