Background
Marchibroda, Ted was born on March 15, 1931 in Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States.
Marchibroda, Ted was born on March 15, 1931 in Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States.
Student, St. Bonaventure College, 1950-1951; student, University Detroit, 1952.
Marchibroda played college football at Saint Bonaventure University and the University of Detroit, where he excelled as a quarterback, leading the nation with 1,813 yards passing in 1952. Marchibroda was drafted in 1953 by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. After one year, he left the Steelers to serve in the United States. Army.
After his discharge, Marchibroda returned to the Steelers.
Marchibroda began his coaching career in 1961 as an assistant for the Washington Redskins before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 1966. He then served as offensive coordinator under George Allen for the Redskins.
Marchibroda got his first head coaching job with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. But in those three playoff seasons, the Colts would lose in the AFC Divisional Playoffs including a 37–31 loss to the Oakland Raiders in the 1977 postseason.
Marchibroda stayed as coach until 1979.
Marchibroda served as the quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills under head coach Marv Levy from 1987 to 1991. As offensive coordinator for the Bills, he was influential in the evolution of the hurry-up offense. Levy, Marchibroda and quarterback Jim Kelly used their version of the hurry-up offense, the "K-Gun" offense, more than any previous offense.
Kelly would hurry to the line of scrimmage, preventing the defense from making substitutions, and called audibles at the line.
The National Football League later imposed a rule that allowed time for defense substitutions if the offense made substitutions, except after the two-minute warning of either half. In 1992, Marchibroda returned to the Colts for a second stint as head coach.
He was fired by the Colts after the 1995 season. From 1996 to 1998 he coached the Baltimore Ravens, making him the only man to serve as head coach for both Baltimore NFL teams.
He compiled a career record of 87–98–1, with a 2–4 record in the playoffs.
Marchibroda was a radio color commentator for the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2006 alongside Bob Lamey. Marchibroda died on January 16, 2016 from natural causes at his home in Weems, Virginia at the age of 84. NFL head coaches under whom Ted Marchibroda served: George Allen, Los Angeles Rams (1966–1970), Washington Redskins (1971–1977) Marv Levy, Buffalo Bills (1987–1997) Assistant coaches under Ted Marchibroda who became NFL or college head coaches: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa (1999–present) Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997–2011) Lindy Infante, Indianapolis Colts (1996–1997) Bill Belichick, Cleveland Browns (1991-1995), New England Patriots (2000–present) Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals (2003–present) Eric Mangini, New York Jets (2006–2008), Cleveland Browns (2009–2010) Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions (2009–2013) Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals (2007–2012), Tennessee Titans (2014–2015).
Marchibroda is a member of the University of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1983). Marchibroda is also a member of the Saint Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1970).
Married Henrietta Marchibroda. Children: Jodi, Teddy, Lonni, Robert.