Tag: Marv levy

Sean McDermott joined Marv Levy in Bills history for playoff success

Sean McDermott joined Marv Levy in #Bills history for playoff success:

The Bills’ recent playoff run ended quicker than many would have liked, Sean McDermott included.

But the team’s head coach did enter a realm of team history that is only shared by Marv Levy.

McDermott and the Bills defeated the Steelers in the wild card round. That gave McDermott his fifth-career postseason win as a head coach. By taking that victory, McDermott joined Levy as the only coaches in Bills history to have won five playoff games.

Overall, Levy still has McDermott soundly beat. Levy’s 11-8 record is the playoff easily eclipses McDermott’s 5-6 losing mark.

Regardless, that’s some good company.

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LOOK: Bills legend Marv Levy is at Bills vs. Patriots

Marv in the house:

The Bills have a very special guest in Orchard Park taking in Sunday’s Week 17 matchup against the Patriots.

Former Bills head coach and NFL Hall of Famer Marv Levy is taking in the game. The 98-year-old was shown on the big board at Highmark Stadium and received a warm welcome from the crowd.

Check out Marv’s appearance in the WKBW-TV image below:

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WATCH: Room full of Hall of Famers sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Marv Levy

Awesome as always from Marv:

A very nice Pro Football Hall of Fame “Happy Birthday” came Marv Levy’s way.

The former Bills head coach and Hall of Famer was in Canton, Ohio, this weekend for the hall’s festivities announcing the latest members to be added to the group. During a luncheon event on Friday, a room full of Hall of Famers sang the birthday tune to him.

Levy, fresh off celebrating his 98th birthday, kept true to himself in the video share of the occasion as well.

“Thank you all. I want to invite you all to my 200th birthday!” Levy said.

Former Bills wide receiver and Hall of Famer James Lofton shared the clip which can be found below:

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Bills’ Sean McDermott tells story of first time meeting Marv Levy

They had a race:

Happy Birthday, Marv Levy!

The former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and Hall of Famer is celebrating his 98th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 3.

That same morning, current Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke with the media via video conference. He started the presser by sending birthday wishes to Levy but he also shared the story of how they met.

According to McDermott, the two saw each other somewhere during the time Levy was Buffalo’s general manager between 2006-2007 at the NFL combine. McDermott was working out on a treadmill and Levy walked up next to him and started to use the elliptical.

ā€œFor any coach, let alone a young coach and with (Levy) having a shared experience being at William & Mary years before I was there and just to meet him, his persona precedes him. I had never met him in person. Iā€™m jogging on the treadmill and hereā€™s the legend right beside me,” McDermott said.

McDermott was asked who won the “race” on the machines next to each other as well.

ā€œHe was on the elliptical and I was on the treadmill so maybe it wasnā€™t a fair race,ā€ McDermott said.

ā€œWhen I got off, I shook his hand and said, Iā€™m Sean McDermott and we have something in common, I was at William & Mary and he was very gracious, very cordial as you would expect,” McDermott added.

Levy still sits atop the leaderboard of head coaching wins for the Bills with 182. McDermott is third with 97. Lou Saban has 113.

For more from McDermott on Levy, see the attached Batavia Daily News video below:

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Jim Kelly, Marv Levy pump up Bills crowd before kickoff vs. Titans (video)

Marv is incredible:

What a moment it was.

Jim Kelly was announced as the “legend of the game” for Week 2’s Bills-Titans meeting on Monday Night Football. He did a great job himself as the Hall of Fame QB was tasked with exciting the crowd before kickoff.

What was really incredible was former Bills head coach Marv Levy making surprise appearance.

The Hall of Fame coach went above and beyond, as the man who turned 97 in August, took the microphone and belted out his famous quote: “Where else would you rather be…?”

Check it out in the clip shared below by the team:

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The 1972 Washington Redskins were a ‘special’ team

Washington’s 1972 team was a special group.

50 Years ago, the 1972 Washington Redskins became the first team in Washington history to play in a Super Bowl.

Kicking off the season was a Monday Night Football contest, as Washington traveled to the Minnesota Vikings of Fran Tarkenton, the Purple People Eaters and coach Bud Grant.

When future Hall-of-Famer Tarkenton connected with John Gilliam for the only score of the third quarter, Washington trailed the Vikings 14-10. Washington would come back to win 24-21, behind touchdown runs by Larry Brown and Charley Harraway. Surprisingly the Vikings had outgained Washington 382-203 and collected 26 First Downs to only 11 by the Redskins.

How had Washington won this MNF game? They sacked Tarkenton four times. They won the turnover battle 2-1, and there was the one play I have recalled all of these years from watching the game in my youth.

Early in the opening quarter, Washington had stopped the Vikings deep in their own territory forcing a punt. Vikings punter Mike Eischeid lined up on his own 18-yard line to punt. Washington reserve receiver Bill Malinchak lined up outside on the right of the rushing Washington line. As Eischeid’s foot met the ball on the 20-yard line, suddenly a thump was heard as an outstretched Malinchak’s hand blocked the punt, sending the ball toward the left to Eischeid’s right. Malinchak scooped up the ball at the 16 and ran into the end zone untouched for the game’s first score.

Head coach George Allen had already been an NFL innovator. When the defensive coordinator for George Halas’ Bears, Allen had invented the nickel back, replacing a linebacker with an extra defensive back on passing downs. In 1969 as head coach of the Rams he had hired the first special teams’ coach in the NFL (Dick Vermeil).

In ’72 Allen repeatedly preached the importance of special teams preparation and making big plays on special teams. Special teams coach Marv Levy and Allen produced remarkable results as Washington blocked 5 field goals and 4 punts in the ’72 season. In 1990-93 the same Levy coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive AFC Championships and 4 Super Bowl appearances.

Special teams played a major role 50 years ago as Washington (11-3) won the NFC East, the NFC championship, and played in Super Bowl VII. This present generation of coaches stands on the shoulders of those like Allen who changed the NFL forever with his emphasis on special teams.

 

 

 

Marv Levy talking current Bills is still awesome (video)

Marv Levy on current Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott.

Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Bills head coach, and now Canadian Football Hall of Famer in Marv Levy has made headlines recently because of the latter.

Earlier this week, it was announced by the CFL that Levy would be inducted into their Hall of Fame after the NFL inducted him into theirs in 2001. Levy had a CFL run from 1973 to 1977. Along the way, he won two Grey Cups with the Montreal Alouettes.

To celebrate his second enshrinement, the 95-year-old made an appearance with NFL Network to discuss it. A quick video of his second on TV was thenĀ  posted on Twitter recently and it was too great not to share.

Levy even says it himself, he loves to still be a Bills fan.

Check out the clip below:

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Former Bills coach Marv Levy to be inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Former Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy to be enshrined in Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Make it two Hall of Fames for former Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy.

Formerly the Bills’ head coach from 1986-1997, Levy had a CFL run from 1973 to 1977. Along the way, he won two Grey Cups with the Montreal Alouettes.

A Pro Football Hall of Famer inducted in 2001, it was announced on Monday by the CFL that Levy would join the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

According to NFL.com, Levy joins Bud Grant and Warren Moon as only the third person to be enshrined in both.

Levy enters the group under the “builder” category. The 2021 class will be officially induced in the Hall of Fame is scheduled for Grey Cup Week this November in Hamilton.

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WATCH: Marv Levy provides Bills with wise words

Marv Levy sends message to Buffalo Bills post- AFC East title.

The Buffalo Bills won the AFC East last weekend for the first time since Marv Levy was the team’s head coach in 1995.

Current Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said during his video conference call on Monday that the 95-year-old did reach out to him personally following the title capture.Ā Levy has now reached out publicly to the rest of us and the team.

Speaking via video on the team’s social media, Levy took a classic Levy-esque approach with his advice. He dusted off an old philosophy from Benjamin Franklin.

Check out Levy’s message below:

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