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Harold Richardson (American football)

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Harold Richardson
Personal information
Born: (1944-09-27) September 27, 1944 (age 80)[1]
Houston, Texas, U.S.[1]
Career information
College:SMU
Career history
As a coach:
As an executive:

Harold Richardson (born September 27, 1944) is an American football coach and executive who served as general manager of the Atlanta Falcons from 1998 to 2002.

Playing

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Richardson played tight end at Southern Methodist University from 1965 to 1967.[2] In his three seasons with the Mustangs, Richardson caught 34 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns.[3]

Coaching

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Richardson began his college coaching career at his alma mater – SMU.[1] From 1973 to 1976 he was an assistant at Oklahoma State University, where he was part of a coaching staff that included Bum Phillips, Wade Phillips and Frank Gansz.[4] He then served as defensive ends coach at Texas Christian University.[5] After a two-year stint at North Texas State, Richardson moved to the NFL.[1] From 1981 to 1985 he was an assistant with the New Orleans Saints.[6] From 1987 to 1988 he was the defensive coordinator of the Colorado State Rams.[7]

Front office

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In 1989, Richardson joined the Denver Broncos as special teams coach. He moved to the front office in 1993, assisting in contract negotiations and salary-cap management. He left the Broncos in 1997 to join former Broncos head coach Dan Reeves in Atlanta.[7] After one season as the Falcons' assistant head coach/football operations, Richardson was promoted to general manager. As GM, Richardson oversaw contract signings and salary cap management, marketing, and public and community relations.[8] When Reeves missed two games at the end of the 1998 season due to bypass surgery, Richardson assisted interim head coach Rich Brooks, serving as his on-field connection with game officials and team captains while Brooks coached from the coaches' box.[9] After Arthur Blank purchased the team in February 2002 he began looking to replace Richardson.[10] He resigned on May 9, 2002.[6]

From 2010 to 2019, Richardson was the executive director of the East–West Shrine Bowl.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d The Official National Football League Record and Fact Book 1993. Workman Publishing Company, Incorporated. 1993. p. 41.
  2. ^ "The History of SMU Football" (PDF). SMU. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  3. ^ "Harold Richardson". Sports Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Baldwin, Mike (January 30, 1999). "Sooner Super Bowl Nine Oklahomans Will Take Part in the Big Game". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Transactions". The Boston Globe. December 22, 1976.
  6. ^ a b Winkeljohn, Matt (May 10, 2002). "GM Richardson left with no role". The Atlanta Journal - Constitution.
  7. ^ a b Schefter, Adam (February 20, 1997). "Richardson to join Reeves". Denver Post.
  8. ^ Fabrizio, Tony (January 17, 1998). "Richardson Named Falcons' GM". The Augusta Chronicle.
  9. ^ Winkeljohn, Matt (December 17, 1998). "Duties shuffled with Reeves out". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  10. ^ Winkeljohn, Matt (February 3, 2002). "Blank starts GM search". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  11. ^ "After Nine Years, Harold Richardson Steps Down From the East-West Shrine Game". PR Newswire. March 19, 2019.