This week in City of Seattle history.
Death of Don Coryell on July 1, 2010.
Don Coryell died on July 1, 2010, in La Mesa, California. He was born in Seattle, Washington, on October 17, 1924, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later attended the University of Washington. There, he played football and earned degrees in physical education. Coryell coached at several colleges before leading the San Diego State football program for 12 years. He then moved to the NFL, where he coached the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers. He created the “Air Coryell” offense, which impacted football strategy. His teams led the league in passing yards for several seasons. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Chargers Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though he spent most of his career outside Washington, his early life and education began in Seattle.