Harland Svare
American football player and coach (1930–2020)
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Harland James Svare (November 25, 1930 – April 4, 2020)[1] was an American professional football player, coach and general manager. Svare was a linebacker who played eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1953 to 1960. He was the Rams head coach from midway the 1962 season through 1965, and the San Diego Chargers head coach from 1971 through 1973. He was general manager of the Chargers from 1971 to 1976.[1]
Clarkfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.
| No. 65, 76, 84 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | November 15, 1930 Clarkfield, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died | April 4, 2020 (aged 89) Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | North Kitsap (Poulsbo, Washington) | ||||||||||
| College | Washington State | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1953: 17th round, 204th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||
Operations | |||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||
| Regular season | 21–48–5 (.318) | ||||||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||
| Executive profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||
During the halftime intermission of a November 1972 game, Chargers owner Eugene V. Klein awarded Svare a five-year coaching contract, an unpopular decision; however, Svare voluntarily stepped down from the position during the following season.[2]
Head coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| LA | 1962 | 0 | 5 | 1 | .083 | 7th in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| LA | 1963 | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 6th in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| LA | 1964 | 5 | 7 | 2 | .429 | 5th in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| LA | 1965 | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 7th in NFL Western | – | – | – | – |
| LA total | 14 | 31 | 3 | .323 | – | – | – | – | ||
| SD | 1971 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SD | 1972 | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 4th in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SD | 1973 | 1 | 6 | 1 | .188 | 4th in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SD total | 7 | 17 | 2 | .308 | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 21 | 48 | 5 | .318 | – | – | – | – | ||
