NFL

Father of Jets GM dead at 85

John Joseph Idzik, the father of Jets general manager John Idzik, passed away Tuesday at the age of 85 at his home in Chadds Ford, Pa.

Idzik, who died of natural causes, attended Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia before later embarking on a lengthy coaching career that included a stint as the Jets offensive coordinator from 1977-79. A two-sport star in high school and the youngest of nine children, Idzik turned down a baseball contract offer from the St. Louis Cardinals and instead played football and baseball at Maryland. After college, Idzik served in the Marines, and after an honorable discharge, he joined the University of Tennessee coaching staff in 1954.

He was named head coach of the University of Detroit in 1961 at the age of 33. His 16-year NFL coaching career started in 1966 when he landed a job as the offensive backfield coach for the Dolphins. He was a part of the 1970 Super Bowl champion Colts in a similar position and became the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 1973 before coming to the Jets in 1977.

He capped his coaching career as offensive backfield coach of the USFL Washington Federals in 1983 and head coach of the Aberdeen (Scotland) Oilers in the British American Football League in 1990 when he coached with his son, John.

He is survived by his sister, Laura Novasack, his wife, Joyce Joann (Hoppensteadt), and his three children, Dr. Cynthia Lynn Idzik-Starr, John Arthur Idzik and Joyce Leigh Harms, in addition to five grandchildren.