25:
526:. A late season slump, coupled with the playoff losses and overall inconsistency, resulted in Bennett being fired on January 14, 1983. He was the first coach in Falcons history to depart with a winning record, going 47–44 (including a 1–3 record in the playoffs). The next coach to finish with a winning record was
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During his first season in
Atlanta, Bennett's defense became known as the "Grits Blitz" for its ferocious style and allowing just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. The overall improvement of the team became evident the following season, when the Falcons defeated
577:, later serving as its director. Bennett also contributed to Falcons radio shows. He would be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2020, Bennett was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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for three seasons beginning in 1958. During
Collier's final season with the Wildcats in 1961, Bennett began his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach with the team.
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While still handling his bowl game duties, Bennett is mostly retired, spending much of his free time golfing and hunting. He also spends his time with his family.
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While another losing record followed in 1981, the team lost its final three games, dashing hopes of a playoff return. However, the strike-shortened
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in
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the following year. After only one season, Bennett accepted the running backs coaching position under
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title and a then-team record 12 wins. However, a fourth quarter collapse against
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in 1967, then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following season.
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Wild Card game, then put up a strong fight against the defending
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in the first round of the playoffs abruptly ended the season.
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from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
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On
February 7, 1969, Bennett assumed similar duties at the
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Bennett continued the following year under new head coach
1027:"Leeman Bennett Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks"
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hired him on
January 23, 1985, replacing the retiring
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16:American football player and coach (born 1938)
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464:After Chuck Knox was hired as head coach of
1475:Players of American football from Kentucky
1435:American members of the Churches of Christ
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56:about living persons that is unsourced or
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
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499:After the team endured a losing season
1480:St. Louis Cardinals (football) coaches
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533:For the next two years, Bennett sold
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1490:Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaches
1288:Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaches
360:(born June 20, 1938) is a former
567:Greater Atlanta Christian School
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1006:www.atlantasportshalloffame.org
1430:American football quarterbacks
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1440:Atlanta Falcons head coaches
1246:# denotes interim head coach
1073:Atlanta Falcons head coaches
452:to become an assistant with
431:the University of Cincinnati
423:the University of Pittsburgh
34:biography of a living person
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417:. He resumed his career at
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421:in 1965, then moved on to
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141:American football player
767:NFC Divisional Playoffs
696:NFC Divisional Playoffs
482:the Philadelphia Eagles
1031:Pro Football Reference
988:Pro Football Reference
470:NFC Championship games
459:
48:Please help by adding
1450:Detroit Lions coaches
535:recreational vehicles
524:the Minnesota Vikings
274:Offensive backs coach
266:Offensive backs coach
258:Offensive coordinator
250:Offensive coordinator
584:Head coaching record
466:the Los Angeles Rams
374:Tampa Bay Buccaneers
309:Head coaching record
294:Tampa Bay Buccaneers
282:Wide receivers coach
222:Kentucky (1961-1962)
150:Personal information
54:Contentious material
916:5th in NFC Central
890:5th in NFC Central
575:Alpharetta, Georgia
553:Life after football
472:, but never made a
450:the 1971 NFL season
446:St. Louis Cardinals
262:St. Louis Cardinals
245:Running backs coach
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1325:Richard Williamson
438:U.S. Naval Academy
342:Coaching stats at
178:Career information
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1094:Norm Van Brocklin
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530:in 2006 (26–22).
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386:Paducah, Kentucky
362:American football
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333:NFL: 51–72 (.415)
317:NFL: 50–69 (.420)
248:Cincinnati (1968)
171:Paducah, Kentucky
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650:2nd in NFC West
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411:Charlie Bradshaw
278:Los Angeles Rams
193:Career history
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677:2nd in NFC West
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400:Coaching career
394:Blanton Collier
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370:Atlanta Falcons
325:NFL: 1–3 (.250)
314:Regular season:
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1399:(2022–present)
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167:(age 86)
165:June 20, 1938
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72:Find sources:
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1389:Bruce Arians
1381:Dirk Koetter
1365:Greg Schiano
1308:
1245:
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1230:Arthur Smith
1117:
1021:
1009:. Retrieved
1005:
1002:"ASHOF Home"
996:
978:
818:
747:
676:
579:
571:John's Creek
556:
532:
517:
498:
478:
463:
442:Rick Forzano
435:
408:
384:A native of
383:
357:
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343:
198:As a player:
138:
123:
114:
104:
97:
90:
83:
71:
60:
43:verification
36:
1420:1938 births
1397:Todd Bowles
1391:(2019–2021)
1383:(2016–2018)
1375:(2014–2015)
1373:Lovie Smith
1367:(2012–2013)
1359:(2009–2011)
1351:(2002–2008)
1343:(1996–2001)
1335:(1992–1995)
1327:(1990–1991)
1319:(1987–1990)
1317:Ray Perkins
1311:(1985–1986)
1303:(1976–1984)
1232:(2021–2023)
1216:(2015–2020)
1208:(2008–2014)
1184:(2004–2006)
1168:(1997–2003)
1160:(1994–1996)
1152:(1990–1993)
1142:Jim Hanifan
1136:(1987–1989)
1128:(1983–1986)
1126:Dan Henning
1120:(1977–1982)
1110:Pat Peppler
1104:(1974–1976)
1096:(1968–1974)
1088:(1966–1968)
1086:Norb Hecker
600:Postseason
513:the Cowboys
415:Thin Thirty
322:Postseason:
296:(1985–1986)
288:(1977–1982)
280:(1973–1976)
264:(1970-1971)
215:As a coach:
208:(1957-1960)
1414:Categories
1349:Jon Gruden
1341:Tony Dungy
1301:John McKay
1206:Mike Smith
1166:Dan Reeves
1158:June Jones
970:References
844:ATL total
819:5th in NFC
623:Win %
611:Win %
563:Peach Bowl
543:John McKay
503:, Bennett
490:Super Bowl
474:Super Bowl
427:Homer Rice
380:Early life
298:Head coach
290:Head coach
241:Cincinnati
233:Pittsburgh
161:1938-06-20
117:March 2010
87:newspapers
1333:Sam Wyche
1214:Dan Quinn
1112:# (1976)
1011:March 24,
492:champion
39:citations
1224:# (2020)
1200:# (2007)
1182:Jim Mora
1176:# (2003)
1144:# (1989)
923:TB total
832:Lost to
761:Lost to
690:Lost to
528:Jim Mora
509:division
419:Kentucky
368:(NFL)'s
206:Kentucky
187:Kentucky
183:College:
65:libelous
626:Result
559:Atlanta
537:before
505:in 1980
501:in 1979
484:in the
405:College
330:Career:
101:scholar
1192:(2007)
614:Finish
440:under
272:(1972)
256:(1969)
243:(1967)
235:(1966)
173:, U.S.
103:
96:
89:
82:
74:
941:Total
913:.125
887:.125
864:.250
853:.529
829:.000
815:.556
789:.438
758:.000
744:.750
718:.375
687:.500
673:.563
647:.500
155:Born:
108:JSTOR
94:books
32:This
1013:2022
961:.250
950:.420
932:.125
903:1986
877:1985
805:1982
779:1981
734:1980
708:1979
663:1978
637:1977
620:Lost
608:Lost
594:Year
591:Team
372:and
254:Navy
80:news
41:for
910:14
884:14
850:41
847:46
836:in
800:ATL
774:ATL
765:in
738:12
729:ATL
715:10
703:ATL
694:in
658:ATL
632:ATL
617:Won
605:Won
573:in
486:NFC
460:NFL
429:at
345:PFR
1416::
1029:.
1004:.
986:.
947:69
944:50
929:28
907:2
898:TB
881:2
872:TB
861:3
858:1
826:1
823:0
812:4
809:5
786:9
783:7
755:1
752:0
741:4
712:6
684:1
681:1
670:7
667:9
644:7
641:7
549:.
496:.
456:.
376:.
163:)
52:.
1279:e
1272:t
1265:v
1064:e
1057:t
1050:v
1033:.
1015:.
990:.
958:3
955:1
926:4
159:(
130:)
124:(
119:)
115:(
105:·
98:·
91:·
84:·
67:.
46:.
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