Richie Petitbon

Petitbon was born in New Orleans on April 18, 1938 to a French immigrant father and American mother.^[6][7] He attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans, where he played on the football team, winning a state championship.^[8] In a 1954 game against rival Holy Cross, Petitbon threw an 88-yard touchdown pass to Billy Ladner, the longest completion in school history.^[9]

Petitbon initially went to Loyola University in New Orleans on a track scholarship, in 1957. After his freshman year, Petitbon transferred to Tulane University, where he became the Green Wave's quarterback under coach Andy Pilney. In 1958, Petitbon was named All-Southeastern Conference quarterback. In 20 games, his completion percentage was 47.3, with five passing touchdowns, five running touchdowns, thirteen interceptions, and 336 rushing yards. He also averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return that year, second best in school history. His Tulane career average of 24.3 yards per kick return set a school record, which has since been surpassed.^[8][1][10]

Petitbon was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 1959 draft, the 21st player taken overall. In his first year, he played cornerback, with three interceptions and one touchdown return on an interception. In 1960, hall of fame coach George Halas switched Petitbon to safety, where he would play the next 13 years. One of his defensive coordinators with the Bears was future hall of fame coach George Allen. Petitbon also played under defensive coordinator Clark Shaughnessy with the Bears, whom Petitbon considered a genius.^[11][12][7]

In 1962, he returned an interception against the Los Angeles Rams 101 yards for a touchdown, the longest return in Bears' history. He had six interceptions that year, and a league leading 212 return yards on interceptions.^[11][12]

In 1963, Petitbon had eight interceptions.^[7] In the 1963 NFL championship game, Petitbon intercepted Y. A. Tittle's last second pass into the endzone, securing a 14-10 victory for the Bears as NFL champions. He had recovered a fumble earlier in the game.^[11][1]

He played 10 years total with the Bears. His 38 interceptions with the Bears ranks second in team history.^[12][7] He also had three interceptions in a single game against the Green Bay Packers in 1967.^[11]

In 1969, when Allen became head coach of the Rams, he traded for Petitbon. Allen traded for Petitbon again two years later when he became head coach in Washington.^[12] In his first game with Washington in 1971, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Petitbon had three interceptions.^[11] Washington reached the Super Bowl in 1972, losing to the Miami Dolphins 14-7, in the year the Dolphin's were a perfect 17-0.^[11] Petitbon retired at the end of the year.^[13]

In his career, Petitbon had 48 interceptions, recovered 13 fumbles, and scored three defensive touchdowns.^[12] He appeared in four Pro Bowls during his time with the Bears, and was first team All Pro in 1963.^[7]

Petitbon was an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers for four years.^[8] He returned to the Redskins in 1978 as the defensive backs coach under Jack Pardee.^[7][12] In 1981, future hall of fame coach Joe Gibbs became head coach, and he made Petitbon defensive coordinator.^[12] From 1981 to 1992, Petitbon was the Redskins' defensive coordinator and/or assistant head coach/defense under Gibbs, either acting as coordinator alone or sharing the job with Larry Peccatiello.^[13][14] During this time period, Petitbon was considered one of the top defensive minds and innovators in football.^[13][6] He led Washington's defense while Gibbs led the offense. During his tenure in Washington, the team won Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI.^[12][13] Petitbon and Peccatiello created a blitz scheme on the day of Super Bowl XXVI that led to an interception later in the day on the first play of the second half.^[6]

In 1982, Washington had the first ranked defense, allowing only 14.2 points per game. In 1983, his team forced 61 turnovers. In Washington's 1991 Super Bowl year, the defense allowed the second fewest points of any defense in the NFL, holding opponents to 14 points or less 10 times.^[6]

When Gibbs initially retired in 1993, Petitbon was named his successor.^[7] He did not find the same success as a head coach, lasting only one season. Aging and underachieving, the team finished 4–12 and Petibon was dismissed by Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke in favor of archrival Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Norv Turner.^[15] Following his firing, Petitbon never took another job in the NFL.

Petitbon's older brother, John Petitbon, also attended Jesuit High School and led it to the Louisiana AA football championship in 1946. John attended Notre Dame for college, and played in the NFL. His NFL career was interrupted by his service as a marine in Korea, winning an NFL championship in 1955 with the Cleveland Browns after his return from the war.^[11]

Petitbon's son, Richie Petitbon Jr., played football for the University of Maryland Terrapins in the 1980s, and Petitbon Jr.'s son, Carson Petitbon, played quarterback at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Maryland, his home town.^[16] He is a current player for the Terrapins.^[17] Carson's brother, Richie Petitbon III played offensive line at the University of Illinois,^[18] and his other brother Luke is an offensive lineman at Wake Forest University.^[19]

Both Petitbon brothers are members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame.^[8][1][11] Richie was inducted into the Tulane Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.^[10] He was inducted into Washington's Ring of Fame in 2015.^[6]

As of October 17, 2024, Petitbon was among 12 candidates selected for possible induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, as a coach.^[20]

• Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference