Former Jets head coach Joe Walton dies at 85

Former Jets head coach Joe Walton has died, Robert Morris University announced on Sunday. He was 85.

Former Jets head coach Joe Walton has died. He was 85.

News of Walton’s death was first announced by Robert Morris University on Sunday. Walton made his final coaching stop at the university, leading the Colonials from 1994-2013 after decades in the NFL as a player and coach.

Walton’s only other head coaching gig came with the Jets. He led Gang Green from 1983-1989 after two years as the team’s offensive coordinator. Walton compiled a 53-57-1 record with the Jets and took the franchise to the playoffs in 1985 and 1986. Weeb Ewbank is the only head coach in team history with more wins.

The Jets fired Walton following a 4-12 season in 1989.

A Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania native, Walton went to Pittsburgh and first entered the NFL as a tight end with Washington in 1957. He spent four seasons there before playing another three years with the Giants. He retired in 1964 with 2,628 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.

Walton then spent four seasons as a Giants scout before becoming Big Blue’s wide receivers coach. Walton also spent time as Washington’s running backs coach and offensive coordinator before joining the Jets. He spent two seasons as the Steelers’ coordinator after his time in New York came to a close.

Walton was named the first head coach in Robert Morris football history on July 27, 1993. He is credited with starting the Pennsylvania-based program from scratch.

Walton and RMU won the first Northeast Conference championship in 1996, and the coach led the Colonials to a perfect 10-0 season in 2000. He was still coaching RMU when the school earned the conference’s inaugural bid to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs in 2010.

Walton was inducted into the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

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