Former Eagles Coach Marion Campbell dies at 87

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - A former player and coach with the Eagles, Marion Campbell passed away in Texas recently at the age on 87, the team announced.

Campbell was a former All-Pro player on the franchise's last championship team in 1960 and went on to become head coach from 1983-85.

Known as the "Swamp Fox" the defensive-minded mentor also had two stints as Atlanta's head coach, from 1974-76 and again from 1987-89. Although his career coaching record was just 34-80-1 Campbell was really never given the opportunity to coach teams with all that much talent and was a highly regarded defensive tactician.

As a player Campbell toiled for eight seasons in the NFL, including six with Philadelphia where he played on both sides of the ball, although his main position was on the defensive line.

"Marion Campbell will be missed by the Eagles community, but also remembered for his spirited impact on our game," Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said. "Like Chuck Bednarik, he was a great two-way player during a special era in NFL history. He played with the type of toughness that our town so deeply admires."

In Philadelphia Campbell was originally hired by Dick Vermeil to lead the Eagles’ defense in 1977 and was instrumental in building the 3-4 scheme that lifted lift the team to the 1980 NFC title and into Super Bowl XV against the Oakland Raiders.

When Vermeil resigned, Campbell was elevated to head coach in '83 and won 17 games over the next three season before being eventually replaced by Buddy Ryan, who passed away last month on June 28.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen