Playing career

Marchibroda played college football at Saint Bonaventure University and the University of Detroit, where he excelled as a quarterback, leading the nation with 1,813 yards passing in 1952.

Marchibroda was drafted in 1953 by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. After one year, he left the Steelers to serve in the U.S. Army. After his discharge, Marchibroda returned to the Steelers. He finished his professional playing career with the Chicago Cardinals.

Coaching career

Marchibroda began his coaching career in 1961 as an assistant for the Washington Redskins before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 1966. He then served as offensive coordinator under George Allen for the Redskins.

Marchibroda got his first head coaching job with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. In his first year, he turned the Colts into an instant playoff contender as they won the AFC East title. The Colts would win the AFC East title the next two seasons, led by 1976 NFL Most Valuable Player quarterback Bert Jones and sensational running back Lydell Mitchell. But in those three playoff seasons, the Colts would lose in the AFC Divisional Playoffs including a 37-31 loss to the Oakland Raiders in the 1977 postseason. Marchibroda stayed as coach until 1979.

Marchibroda served as the quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills under head coach Marv Levy from 1987 to 1991. As offensive coordinator for the Bills, he was influential in the evolution of the hurry-up offense. Levy, Marchibroda and quarterback Jim Kelly used their version of the hurry-up offense, the "K-Gun" offense, more than any previous offense. Kelly would hurry to the line of scrimmage, preventing the defense from making substitutions, and called audibles at the line. The National Football League later imposed a rule that allowed time for defense substitutions if the offense made substitutions, except after the two-minute warning of either half.

In 1992, Marchibroda returned to the Colts for a second stint as head coach. He was fired by the Colts after the 1995 season. From 1996 to 1998 he coached the Baltimore Ravens, making him the only man to serve as head coach for both Baltimore NFL teams. He compiled a career record of 87-98-1, with a 2-4 record in the playoffs.

Broadcasting career

Marchibroda was a radio color commentator for the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2006 alongside Bob Lamey.

Death

Marchibroda died on January 16, 2016 from natural causes at his home in Weems, Virginia at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife Ann, their four children and six grandchildren.

Accolades

• Marchibroda is a member of Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor.
• Marchibroda is a member of the University of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1983).
• Marchibroda is also a member of the St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1970).
• Marchibroda was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1976.

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Ted Marchibroda served:

• George Allen, Los Angeles Rams (1966-1970), Washington Redskins (1971-1977)
• Marv Levy, Buffalo Bills (1987-1997)

Assistant coaches under Ted Marchibroda who became NFL or college head coaches:

• Kirk Ferentz, Iowa (1999-present)
• Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997-2011)
• Lindy Infante, Indianapolis Colts (1996-1997)
• Bill Belichick, Cleveland Browns (1991-95), New England Patriots (2000-present)
• Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals (2003-present)
• Eric Mangini, New York Jets (2006-2008), Cleveland Browns (2009-2010)
• Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions (2009-2013)
• Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals (2007-2012), Tennessee Titans (2014-2015)

Head coaching record

NFL

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
BLC	1975	10	4	0	.714		0	1	.000
BLC	1976	11	3	0	.786		0	1	.000
BLC	1977	10	4	0	.714		0	1	.000
BLC	1978	5	11	0	.313		-	-	-	-
BLC	1979	5	11	0	.313		-	-	-	-
BLC Total		41	33	0	.554		0	3	.000	-
IND	1992	9	7	0	.563		-	-	-	-
IND	1993	4	12	0	.250		-	-	-	-
IND	1994	8	8	0	.500		-	-	-	-
IND	1995	9	7	0	.563		2	1	.667
IND Total		30	34	0	.469		2	1	.667	-
BLR	1996	4	12	0	.250		-	-	-	-
BLR	1997	6	9	1	.406		-	-	-	-
BLR	1998	6	10	0	.375		-	-	-	-
BLR Total		16	31	1	.315		-	-	-	-
Total		87	91	1	.489		2	4	.333	-

[ Source: Wikipedia ]