IQFB Profile: Allie Sherman

Alexander “Allie” Sherman is most famous as the head coach of the New York Giants during the 1960s. He came on strong winning division titles for the Giants in his first three seasons (1961, 1962, 1963) before getting fired following the 1969 season after going 7-7. He won two NFL Coach of the Year Awards during his first two seasons as a coach in the NFL (1961 & 1962). Previous to coaching the Giants, he was head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, this was his only other head coaching experience. He had also served as a scout and assistant coach in the New York Giants organization.

Previous to his coaching career, Allie Sherman played in the NFL. He saw time as a quarterback, running back, and defensive back during a five year career with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his first season in the NFL in 1943, due to a labor shortage because of World War II, the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers merged to form one team. The league officially called the team Phil-Pitt, fans and the media nicknamed them the Steagles. The armed forces had determined that Sherman was not able to serve in the military, this made him available to play in the NFL. All the members of the Steagles not only played professional football, but they also worked full time jobs in defense plants.

Allie Sherman will go down as one of the favorite figures in New York Giants history and deservedly so.