On July 13, 2016, Former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach, Marion Campbell, better known as "Swamp Fox," passed away in his Plano, Texas at the age of 87. Campbell served as the defensive coordinator for the Falcons from 1969-1974 before serving as head coach from 1974-1976 and from 1987-1989.
Before he began coaching the Atlanta Falcons, he began his football career as a University of Georgia defensive lineman and later went to play for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1956-1961 after spending two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. In his 1960 season with the Eagles, they won their last championship to date.
With his hard work and determination through the game of football, Campbell will truly be missed in more ways than one. His outstanding skill in playing football from a young age, to his superb leadership on the field with the Falcons, his name and legacy is surely one to remember.
Claude Humphrey, an Atlanta Falcons Hall of Famer gives credit to Coach Campbell for his successful career during his Hall of Fame Induction speech in 2014.
“My second year in Atlanta we got a new coach, and his name was Marion Campbell. Ladies and gentlemen, one of the finest men to ever walk on this earth. Marion Campbell took me under his wings and he told me, now, Claude, let me tell you something, you were rookie of the year all right. You had a good season, but, Son, those people at home studied and next year it won’t be the same. You won’t be running around blocking.
“So he had coached the fearsome foursome. He had coached David Jones and Marilyn Olsen. And he remembered a lot of their techniques. So he began to teach them to me. It wasn’t hard because he was a good teacher. I caught on very quickly. That’s why I ended up making all pro the next year and going to the Pro Bowl because of Coach Marion Campbell.”
It was very clear that throughout his coaching career he was very aware of how to turn an entire player's career around for the better and making a significant impact on each team he coached.
He left behind his wife, June Campbell and two children, a son, Scott and a daughter Alicia Johnson.
Coach Campbell will truly be missed.
