Harland Svare

Harland James Svare (November 25, 1930 – April 4, 2020)^[2] was an American professional football player, coach and general manager. Svare was a linebacker who played eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 1953 to 1960. He was the Rams head coach from midway the 1962 season through 1965, and the San Diego Chargers head coach from 1971 through 1973. He was general manager of the Chargers from 1971 to 1976.^[2]

Harland Svare

No. 65, 76, 84
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1930-11-15)November 15, 1930 Clarkfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Died:	April 4, 2020(2020-04-04) (aged 89) Steamboat Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	North Kitsap (WA)
College:	Washington State
NFL draft:	1953 / round: 17 / pick: 204
Career history
As a player:
Los Angeles Rams (1953–1954) New York Giants (1955–1960)
As a coach:
New York Giants (1960–1961) DC Los Angeles Rams (1962–1965) DL/IHC/HC New York Giants (1967–1968) DC[1] Washington Redskins (1969–1970) DC/LB San Diego Chargers (1971–1973)
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion (1956)
Head coaching record
Regular season:	21–48 (.304)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR
Executive profile at PFR

During the halftime intermission of a November 1972 game, Chargers owner Eugene V. Klein awarded Svare a five-year coaching contract, an unpopular decision; however, Svare voluntarily stepped down from the position during the following season.^[3]

Head coaching record

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
LA	1962	0	5	1	.083	7th in NFL Western	–	–	–	–
LA	1963	5	9	0	.357	6th in NFL Western	–	–	–	–
LA	1964	5	7	2	.429	5th in NFL Western	–	–	–	–
LA	1965	4	10	0	.286	7th in NFL Western	–	–	–	–
LA Total		14	31	3	.323		–	–	–	–
SD	1971	2	2	0	.500	3rd in AFC West	–	–	–	–
SD	1972	4	9	1	.321	4th in AFC West	–	–	–	–
SD	1973	1	6	1	.188	4th in AFC West	–	–	–	–
SD Total		7	17	2	.308		–	–	–	–
Total		21	48	5	.318		–	–	–	–

References

1. "Harland Svare Coaching Record". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
2. Goldstein, Richard (April 27, 2020). "Harland Svare, 89, Giants Linebacker and Young Head Coach, Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
3. Magee, Jerry (August 28, 1984). "As Klein Passes on Chargers, Era Ends in San Diego: Whether Right or Wrong, he 'Ran the Show'". The San Diego Union. p. FOOTBALL. Often, though, history's lesson is that Klein has moved too hastily, as he did in November 1972 when he awarded a new five-year coaching contract to Harland Svare at halftime of a game...That decision signaled the most raucous period the Chargers have experienced. Angry cries of "Five more years!" were heard in Mission Valley until Svare stepped down as coach a year later.