Former UK All-American, legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger dies at 87

A Kentucky football legend has passed away.

Former UK All-American Howard Schnellenberger, who played at Kentucky from 1952-56 and spent nearly 50 years coaching in college and in the NFL, has died at the age of 87.

A member of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame, Schnellenberger played two seasons each for head coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and Blanton Collier and was named a first-team All-American, first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press in 1955 and third-team All-Southeastern Conference in 1954. The former Kentucky legend ended his career with 44 receptions for 618 yards (14.0 avg.), 11 touchdowns, and owned a ratio of one touchdown catch for every four pass receptions. Schnellenberger led the Wildcats in receiving during both the 1954 and 1955 seasons.

As a coach, Schnellenberger spent time at Kentucky (ends coach) and Alabama (offensive coordinator) before moving to the NFL, where he made stops with the Los Angeles Rams (ends coach), Miami Dolphins (offensive coordinator) and the Baltimore Colts (head coach). After his time in the NFL, Schnellenberger was the head coach at Miami (FL), Louisville, Oklahoma and Florida Atlantic. The former Wildcat won a national title in 1983 with the Hurricanes.

He ended his coaching career with 158 total wins at the collegiate level, also going 6-0 in bowl games.

Rest in peace to a legend.