Monte Coleman
.jpg) Coleman during his induction in the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame in 2015 | |||||||||
| No. 51 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | November 4, 1957 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | April 26, 2026 (aged 68) | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Pine Bluff | ||||||||
| College | Central Arkansas (1975–1978) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1979: 11th round, 289th overall | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||
| Regular season | 40–71 (.360) | ||||||||
Monte Leon Coleman (November 4, 1957 – April 26, 2026) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1994. He won three Super Bowls with the Redskins.
He later was the head football coach for the Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions from 2008 to 2017, leading the team to a Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012.
College career
Despite not playing football in high school, Coleman played college football for the University of Central Arkansas Bears, then a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school, where his older brother, Sam, played. Coleman began his college career as a safety his first three years before being converted to the linebacker position as a senior, earning all conference honors. Coleman set school records with 22 career interceptions and 8 interceptions in a single season. He became the first player from Central Arkansas drafted in the NFL when the Redskins chose him in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL draft with the 289th overall selection.[1]
Professional career
Coleman played for the Redskins in parts of three decades: the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. On the all-time list of games played as a Redskin, Coleman ranks currently second having played in 217 games, Darrell Green is first. He is one of only three men to have played for at least 16 seasons with the franchise, along with quarterback Sammy Baugh (16) and Green (20). Coleman's 56.5 sacks are the team's fourth-highest all-time total.
Coleman played in the Super Bowl four times, winning three: Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XVIII, Super Bowl XXII, and Super Bowl XXVI.
NFL statistics
- Number: 51
- Sacks: 43.5
- Interceptions: 17
- Touchdowns: 3
Coaching career
Coleman was employed at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a linebacker coach and team chaplain. On November 26, 2007, Coleman was named head football coach at the university. On December 8, 2012, Coleman coached the Arkansas–Pine Bluff to a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) conference championship by defeating Jackson State, 24–21, in the SWAC Championship Game at Birmingham, Alabama. The same year, the team won a Historically Black Colleges and Universities national championship in 2012 following a 10-2 record.[2]
Personal life and death
Coleman lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with his wife, Yvette, and their three children. His son, Kyle, played for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coleman died on April 26 2026, aged 68.[3]
Honors
- All-Madden Team (1993).[4]
- He was selected by Washingtonian Magazine as the Washingtonian of the Year in 1996.[4]
- Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (1998).[4]
- In 2003, he was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.
- Elijah Pitts Award (named after the Conway, Arkansas, native and Green Bay Packer legend) as Conway's athletic lifetime achievement.
- Washington Redskins Ring of Fame (December 20, 2015).[5]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (2008–2017) | |||||||||
| 2008 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 3–9 | 2–5 | 4th (West) | |||||
| 2009 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 5–5 | 3–4 | T–4th (West) | |||||
| 2010 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 5–6 | 4–5 | 4th (West) | |||||
| 2011 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 6–5 | 5–4 | T–2nd (West) | |||||
| 2012 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 10–2 | 8–1 | 1st (West) | W SWAC Championship Game | ||||
| 2013 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 2–9 | 2–7 | T–3rd (West) | |||||
| 2014 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 4–7 | 3–6 | T–4th (West) | |||||
| 2015 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 2–9 | 1–8 | 5th (West) | |||||
| 2016 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 1–10 | 1–8 | 5th (West) | |||||
| 2017 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | 2–9 | 1–6 | 5th (West) | |||||
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff: | 40–71 | 27–57 | |||||||
| Total: | 40–71 | ||||||||
References
- ^ Washington Redskins. Washington Redskins 1979 Media Guide.
- ^ Taylor, Erick (April 26, 2026). "Former UAPB coach, 3-time NFL champion Monte Coleman dies at 68". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ^ Monte Coleman, former UAPB coach and Washington NFL great, dies at 68
- ^ a b c "Central Arkansas Mourns the Passing of Football Legend". University of Central Arkansas Athletics. April 27, 2026. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ^ "Official Site of the Washington Commanders". www.commanders.com. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
External links
- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
- Monte Coleman at IMDb