Former NFL coach Ted Marchibroda dies at age 84

Ted Marchibroda, the former Colts and Ravens coach, passed away on Saturday. He was 84 years old.

Carlie Irsay, daughter of Colts owner Jim Irsay, confirmed the news, writing: "We lost a great coach, player and man today in our Colts family. Love you, Coach Marchibroda."

During a coaching career that spanned four decades, Marchibroda served two stints as the Colts head coach, piling up a 71-67 record in Baltimore (1975-1979) and Indianapolis (1992-1995) before acting as Ravens coach during the team's first three years in the NFL from 1996 to 1998.

"He had a proud history not just with the Colts, but also as a player, coach and broadcaster for over half a century with the NFL," Jim Irsay said in a statement. "Ted was an innovator and turned the Colts into an instant playoff team when he took his first head coaching role in 1975. Ted was as humble as they come, and he represented the Colts and our community with class both off the field and on."

While he went 0-3 in the playoffs with the Baltimore Colts, Marchibroda is remembered for guiding a Jim Harbaugh-led Indianapolis team to the AFC Championship Game in 1995. With an overall record of 87-98-1, Marchibroda stands as the only man in NFL history to have coached both Baltimore franchises.

As a college quarterback for St. Bonaventure and Detroit Mercy, Marchibroda was drafted in the first round by the Steelers in 1953, playing three seasons in Pittsburgh before finishing his on-field career in 1957 with the Chicago Cardinals.

Marchibroda began his coaching run in 1961 as an assistant for the Washington Redskins. He went on to serve as offensive coordinator for the 'Skins, Bears, Lions, Eagles and Bills.

In Buffalo, Marchibroda was credited with creating the team's frenetic K-gun, no-huddle offense, a scheme that helped the Bills reach four straight Super Bowls.

Marchibroda also had an eye for talent, handing a young Bill Belichick his first NFL coaching job in 1975 before watching a handful of his assistants -- Lindy Infante, Marvin Lewis, Eric Mangini, Jim Schwartz and Ken Whisenhunt -- go on to become head coaches.

"Just a grave loss," said Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, who played his first two NFL seasons under Marchibroda in Indianapolis. "The man who I'm endeared to. Taught me a lot about football and life and just how they correlate and how taking care of your job, taking care of your family and handling your responsibilities and being a good teammate is very important. We lost a special man."