Afl all star 1962 | Name Bob Zeman | |
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196019611962-19631965-1966 AFL Los Angeles ChargersAFL San Diego ChargersAFL Denver BroncosAFL San Diego Chargers Education University of Wisconsin-Madison | ||
Edward Robert Zeman (born February 22, 1937 in Geneva, Illinois) is a former American football defensive back who played six seasons in the American Football League from 1960 to 1966.
Contents
- Early years
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Los AngelesSan Diego Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Second stint with San Diego
- College coaching
- Professional coaching
- References
Early years
Zeman attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School, and was inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Wisconsin Badgers
Zeman played on both sides of the ball at Wisconsin. However, he never eclipsed 600 yards of rushing, playing mostly defense. After playing in the Rose Bowl his senior year, Zeman met with executives in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers
Zeman was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 1960 AFL draft. He, along with other players from the inaugural year, presented the Chargers organization with a signed ball for its move back to L. A.
Denver Broncos
In his first season with the Denver Broncos, Zeman garnered a Pro Bowl selection on the strength of six interceptions; one was returned for a touchdown.
Second stint with San Diego
Zeman injured his knee at the end of the 1966 season tackling Mike Garrett. He never returned to professional football.
College coaching
A couple years after retiring as a player, Zeman started to coach at the college level. His first stop was Northwestern, where he coached defensive backs in 1968 and 1969. He then went and coached at his alma mater Wisconsin in 1970.
Professional coaching
He then coached for the Oakland Raiders between 1971 and 1977, and won Super Bowl XI with the team. Zeman then coached with a team he had played for, the Denver Broncos, between 1978 and 1982. He spent the following year as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. His later stops included the Los Angeles Rams, scouting for some teams, and stints with Mike Holmgren in both San Francisco and Seattle.