Maxie Baughan article

[talkoffametwo.com]



Maxie Baughan and the Hall-of-Fame Resume That Demands Attention
He went to nine Pro Bowls in 10 years, yet was never a Hall-of-Fame finalist? Someone please explain.
JOHN TURNEY6 HOURS AGO
Photo courtesy of USA Today

In this story:
Los Angeles Rams
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
When the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week announced three senior finalists for its Class of 2024, former linebacker Maxie Baughan was not among them. That's not surprising. He hasn't been a finalist at any level -- modern-era or senior -- in over four decades of eligibility.

But look at his credentials and tell me why.

In an NFL career that spanned 147 games with 143 starts, he was credited with 24-1/2 sacks, 18 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries ... and one league championship. He was also a first-team All-Pro four times, a second-team All-Pro three seasons and a nine-time Pro Bowler.

It's that second sentence that should get your attention. That's more All-Pro and Pro Bowl nominations than each of the last three senior linebackers to reach Canton -- Chuck Howley (2023), Robert Brazile (2018) and Dave Robinson (2013). Baughan was named to Pro Bowls in 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969, yet somehow wasn't named to the '60's all-decade team. Larry Morris, Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Tommy Nobis and Robinson were, and they went to a combined 12 Pro Bowls that decade.

Or three more than Maxie Baughan.

Yet Baughan has never been a Hall-of-Fame finalist? Hard to believe. Nevertheless, he's one of four nine-time Pro Bowl/AFL All-Star picks eligible for the Hall who are not enshrined.

But wait. There's more.

After retiring as a player, he served as defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Colts (1975-79) and Detroit Lions (1980-82) before taking over as head coach at Cornell University, where he led the Big Red to a tie for the 1988 Ivy League championship -- its first league title since 1971.

He later returned to the NFL as linebackers coach with the Vikings, Buccaneers and Ravens and had a hand in coaching Hall-of-Famers Derrick Brooks and Ray Lewis among others in his final stint in the NFL.

Yet he's never been a Hall-of-Fame finalist?

"I don't have a vote," Baughan told the Carroll County (Md.) Times in 2010, "so I 'm not going to worry about it."

An All-American center at Georgia Tech, Baughan was a second-round draft pick of Philadelphia in 1960 and immediately won the starting right-linebacker position. But he did more than that. He helped the Eagles beat Green Bay in the NFL title game in his rookie season and was named runner-up as the NFL's Rookie of the Year..

He played for the Eagles from 1960-65 and was voted All-Pro by the New York Daily News (NYDN) in 1961 and 1964 and by the AP in 1964, as well. He also was voted to the Eastern Conference Pro Bowl teams five times in his six seasons with the Eagles.

"I saw his whole career," said former NFL executive Upton Bell, "including his first year in 1960 when he led the Eagles' defense to an upset of Green Bay in the championship game. He was one of the smartest linebackers I've ever seen."

But in 1966 he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams where new Rams' coach George Allen valued experience and leadership. Allen coveted Baughan and acquired him for a third-round pick and two players. He also traded for Steelers' linebacker Myron Pottios and coaxed Rams' linebacker Jack Pardee out of a one-year retirement, totally revamping the Rams' linebacker corps.

"I want to win now," Allen told Sports Illustrated.

He did. The Rams were 49-17-4 in Baughan's five years at right linebacker. With Baughan calling the plays, the Rams' defense was one of the NFL's best, allowing the fewest points in pro football, the second-fewest yards and second-fewest rushing yards, producing the second-most sacks and creating the second-most turnovers.

While not as physically gifted as some linebackers, Baughan impressed Allen with his savvy and toughness.

"I remember games," Allen once said, "where no one thought he could play. He not only played but performed as well as ever. Maxie couldn't overpower blockers, but he could outwit them and outlast them. He never gave up on a play and ended up getting back into plays he seemed out of."

Baughan went to four more Pro Bowls with L.A. and was a first-team All-Pro in 1966 (NEA), 1967 (UPI) and second-team in 1968 and 1969 (AP, NYDN). However, after an injury-plagued season in 1970 he retired.

After the 1971 season, Allen was fired by the Rams and quickly hired by Washington. One of his first orders of business was to rebuild his linebacking unit as he'd done with the Rams. So he sent a slew of draft picks to the Rams for a defensive lineman, plus Baughan, Pottios, Pardee and a few others (including John Wilbur and Diron Talbert).

However, Baughan didn't suit up for Allen until two seasons later, serving instead as defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech in 1972-73. But Allen coaxed him out of retirement in 1974 to serve as a player/coach ... with the emphasis on coach ... though Baughan did play in two games late that season, recording a tackle at age 36.

Baughan is a member of the Georgia Tech and College Football Halls of Fame, the Philadelphia Eagles' Hall of Fame, the Georgia and Alabama Sports Hall of Fames and the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame. He's also a member of the Pro Football Researcher's Hall of Very Good.

What he's not is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining an excess of qualified candidates. But Maxie Baughan has never been a finalist, and that's hard to fathom.

The seniors committee considered him as one of 12 semifinalists last week, only two days after Baughan passed away of natural causes at the age of 86. But it didn't choose him, naming Randy Gradishar, Steve McMichael and Art Powell instead. And, so, Maxie Baughan's candidacy was put on hold another year.

Here's hoping he returns as a semifinalist for the Hall's Class of 2025, and not because he's qualified for discussion. But because he's qualified for Hall-of-Fame election.