Former Pro Bowl Lineman, NFL Coach Fred Hoaglin Dies at 82

Fred Hoaglin, a former Pro Bowl lineman and NFL coach, passed away at the age of 82 on August 1 in South Carolina. Hoaglin was born on January 28, 1944, in Alliance, Ohio, and spent his formative years in nearby East Palestine. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, contributing to the football team's Tri-County League championship victory in 1960.

Hoaglin's football journey took an unexpected turn when he moved from tackle to center at the University of Pittsburgh, becoming a starter in 1965. After graduating in 1968 with a degree in industrial engineering, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 1966 NFL draft.

Hoaglin made his mark in the NFL with the Browns, starting in the final six games of his rookie season and ultimately becoming a consistent starter from 1967 onwards. His stellar performance led to his selection for the Pro Bowl in 1969. Throughout his 11-year playing career, Hoaglin appeared in 142 games, starting 89 of them. His skills were recognized by the Browns, who invested in developing his coaching abilities, guiding him through various coaching roles.

Hoaglin's coaching career began in 1978 with the Detroit Lions, where he spent eight years before joining the New York Giants in 1985. Under his guidance, the Giants won Super Bowl XXI and XXV, achieving an impressive 79-48 record and a 7-2 playoff record over eight seasons. Hoaglin's success with the Giants was lauded, earning him recognition as one of the most successful offensive line coaches in franchise history.

His influence extended to the New England Patriots, where he coached their offensive line during their 1996 AFC championship season, before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998, where he coached tight ends through 2001.