Fran Polsfoot, Denver Broncos Aide and Former NFL Player, Dies at 57

Fran Polsfoot, an eight-year assistant with the Denver Broncos and a 23-year veteran coach in the National Football League, died Friday night of brain cancer. He was 57.

Polsfoot had brain surgery last year and then underwent chemotherapy on an out-patient basis before being hospitalized Feb. 19 when his condition worsened.

Polsfoot graduated from Washington State, where he was an All-Pacific Coast Conference end. He was also one of the leading collegiate punters in the nation and set several PCC records as a hurdler in track.

Polsfoot played professional football for the Chicago Cardinals in 1950-52, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl after the 1951 season, when he led the American Conference in receiving with 57 catches for 796 yards. He went to the Washington Redskins in 1953, but his playing career was cut short by a knee injury.

Polsfoot began his coaching career at Wisconsin State in 1954, and entered the pro ranks in 1962 as receiver coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He held the same position with the Houston Oilers in 1968-71 and spent three years with Cleveland before returning to Houston in 1975-76.

Polsfoot was the first assistant hired by Red Miller when Miller took over as coach of the Broncos in 1977, the only season Denver has gone to the Super Bowl. He coached all of Denver’s receivers until 1981, when he became tight-end coach. In 1982, he assumed the extra duties of special-teams coach.

He leaves his wife, Mary; a son, Tommy; a daughter, Sally, and a granddaughter. Funeral arrangements were pending.