Longtime coach John Blake dies at 59

Plankton

Well-Known Member
Messages
12,698
Reaction score
19,870
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/07/23/longtime-coach-john-blake-dies-at-59/

John Blake, who won two Super Bowl rings as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach and is best remembered for his stint as head coach at Oklahoma, has died at the age of 59.

Barry Switzer, who coached with Blake both at Oklahoma and with the Cowboys, told Dean Blevins of KWTV that Blake had a heart attack while out for a walk today.

“I recruited him out of Sand Springs. He played for me and captained for me. He coached for me. I was close to John,” Switzer told Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World.

Blake was a nose guard at Oklahoma from 1979 to 1982 and then had a coaching career that saw him work as an assistant at Tulsa, Oklahoma and for the Cowboys before he became head coach at Oklahoma. The Sooners struggled through a rough stretch during Blake’s tenure, and he went 12-22 in his three years as the head coach.

After leaving Oklahoma he had stints coaching the defensive line at Mississippi State, Nebraska and North Carolina. His last coaching job was coaching the Bills’ defensive line in 2016.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blake, if you recall, was the assistant who accused Troy Aikman of being racist in 1995 after he yelled at Kevin Williams for running a wrong route during a game against the Washington Football Team.
 
OMG ..that is a very surprising shocking andsaddening news.
At just age 59, i wonder if he already had some existing health conditions.
My Condolences to John Blake's family and loved ones.
 
OMG ..that is a very surprising shocking andsaddening news.
At just age 59, i wonder if he already had some existing health conditions.
My Condolences to John Blake's family and loved ones.

Blake had blood pressure issues when he was an assistant in Dallas. He dropped a significant amount of weight after the 1994 season in an effort to be more healthy.
 
I am sorry to hear this news. Condolences to his Family.

RIP John Patrick Blake (March 6, 1961 – July 23, 2020)
 
With the Cowboys, he was hired by Jimmy Johnson upon Switzer's recommendation. He did very well for the Cowboys as a DL coach ending up with 2 Super Bowl rings. He was a heck of a recruiter for OU and UNC working with Switzer and Butch Davis.

His issue/controversy with Aikman was more of Switzer, Hansen, Bayless, and Aikman drama. https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1996/september/whats-killing-americas-team/

All I know is that Jimmy Johnson hired great assistant coaches (see Zimmer, Turner, Davis, etc.). Blake proved he was one of those great assistant coaches.

John Blake is a former Cowboy Super Bowl winning assistant coach like Ernie Stautner, Hubbard Alexander, and Joe Avezzano who God wanted Sooner than later.
 
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/07/23/longtime-coach-john-blake-dies-at-59/

John Blake, who won two Super Bowl rings as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach and is best remembered for his stint as head coach at Oklahoma, has died at the age of 59.

Barry Switzer, who coached with Blake both at Oklahoma and with the Cowboys, told Dean Blevins of KWTV that Blake had a heart attack while out for a walk today.

“I recruited him out of Sand Springs. He played for me and captained for me. He coached for me. I was close to John,” Switzer told Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World.

Blake was a nose guard at Oklahoma from 1979 to 1982 and then had a coaching career that saw him work as an assistant at Tulsa, Oklahoma and for the Cowboys before he became head coach at Oklahoma. The Sooners struggled through a rough stretch during Blake’s tenure, and he went 12-22 in his three years as the head coach.

After leaving Oklahoma he had stints coaching the defensive line at Mississippi State, Nebraska and North Carolina. His last coaching job was coaching the Bills’ defensive line in 2016.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blake, if you recall, was the assistant who accused Troy Aikman of being racist in 1995 after he yelled at Kevin Williams for running a wrong route during a game against the Washington Football Team.
That last sentence wasn't necessary. I'm sure he did much more important things than that. I know it's a quote, not coming down on you.
 
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/07/23/longtime-coach-john-blake-dies-at-59/

John Blake, who won two Super Bowl rings as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach and is best remembered for his stint as head coach at Oklahoma, has died at the age of 59.

Barry Switzer, who coached with Blake both at Oklahoma and with the Cowboys, told Dean Blevins of KWTV that Blake had a heart attack while out for a walk today.

“I recruited him out of Sand Springs. He played for me and captained for me. He coached for me. I was close to John,” Switzer told Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World.

Blake was a nose guard at Oklahoma from 1979 to 1982 and then had a coaching career that saw him work as an assistant at Tulsa, Oklahoma and for the Cowboys before he became head coach at Oklahoma. The Sooners struggled through a rough stretch during Blake’s tenure, and he went 12-22 in his three years as the head coach.

After leaving Oklahoma he had stints coaching the defensive line at Mississippi State, Nebraska and North Carolina. His last coaching job was coaching the Bills’ defensive line in 2016.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blake, if you recall, was the assistant who accused Troy Aikman of being racist in 1995 after he yelled at Kevin Williams for running a wrong route during a game against the Washington Football Team.

Me thoughts are with the family. What a loss. R.I.P.
 
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/07/23/longtime-coach-john-blake-dies-at-59/

John Blake, who won two Super Bowl rings as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach and is best remembered for his stint as head coach at Oklahoma, has died at the age of 59.

Barry Switzer, who coached with Blake both at Oklahoma and with the Cowboys, told Dean Blevins of KWTV that Blake had a heart attack while out for a walk today.

“I recruited him out of Sand Springs. He played for me and captained for me. He coached for me. I was close to John,” Switzer told Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World.

Blake was a nose guard at Oklahoma from 1979 to 1982 and then had a coaching career that saw him work as an assistant at Tulsa, Oklahoma and for the Cowboys before he became head coach at Oklahoma. The Sooners struggled through a rough stretch during Blake’s tenure, and he went 12-22 in his three years as the head coach.

After leaving Oklahoma he had stints coaching the defensive line at Mississippi State, Nebraska and North Carolina. His last coaching job was coaching the Bills’ defensive line in 2016.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blake, if you recall, was the assistant who accused Troy Aikman of being racist in 1995 after he yelled at Kevin Williams for running a wrong route during a game against the Washington Football Team.

Was that against the Commanders?
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
474,003
Messages
14,505,691
Members
24,207
Latest member
TomGiantsfan
Back
Top