Harland James Svare (1930–2020) was an American professional football player and coach. He was a linebacker in the renowned defense that helped take the New York Giants to three National Football League (NFL) championship games in the 1950s. In 1962, he became a coach for the Los Angeles Rams—he was then the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern history.
Born in Clarkfield, Minnesota, Svare was a lineman at Washington State University and was a linebacker for eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants 1953–60.
Halfway through the 1962 season, Svare was selected the head coach of a desperate Los Angeles Rams team, even though he had no head-coaching experience at the college or pro level. He stayed head coach through 1965; he was then San Diego Chargers head coach 1971–73. He was general manager of the Chargers 1971–76. After leaving football, Svare founded an institute devoted to physical therapy and the promotion of good health habits.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Harland Svare
In your area of responsibility, if you do not control events, you are at the mercy of events.
—Harland Svare
Topics: Responsibility
I’d be a tough guy with a warm heart.
—Harland Svare
Nobody likes to be criticized, but unless their faults are pointed out to them every time, football players just don’t develop, regardless of how much talent they have.
—Harland Svare
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