LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – Former Washington Redskins Vice President of Football Operations Pepper Rodgers passed away today at the age of 88. Rodgers held the title of Vice President of Football Operations for four seasons before retiring in 2004.
"I was terribly saddened to hear the news about the passing of Pepper Rodgers. Anyone who knew Pepper knew what a genuinely good person he was. He was a kind and gentle man who helped guide me as a young owner in the NFL. He had an incredible knowledge of the game and was beloved by everyone in the organization. Tanya and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Livingston and the entire Rodgers family during this time," said Washington Redskins Owner Dan Snyder.
Rodgers had 22 years of collegiate coaching experience and he amassed a 70-60-3 record as a head coach at the University of Kansas, UCLA and Georgia Tech. As the head coach of Kansas, he was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year twice and he also garnered PAC-10 Coach of the Year honors twice as head coach of UCLA. Rodgers was also named the Southern Independent Coach of the Year two times as head coach of his alma mater Georgia Tech. He also registered a 62-25-5 record as an assistant coach at Air Force, the University of Florida and UCLA.
Rodgers played collegiately for Georgia Tech and got his start as a quarterback and kicker for undefeated Georgia Tech in 1952 and was named MVP in the Sugar Bowl his senior season. After graduation, he served five years as an Air Force pilot before launching his coaching career.
