Pepper Rodgers, vice president of football operations for the Washington Redskins, today announced his retirement after four seasons with the organization. He will retire at the end of the 2004 season.
"I've had a great run--growing up in Atlanta when we were all Redskins fans makes it especially sweet to end my career with the team," Rodgers, 72, said. "If I were going to work in the NFL again, there's only one owner for me, Dan Snyder. The Redskins are in good hands."
"Pepper has played an important role with the Redskins," Snyder said. "I appreciate his help, which will allow us to work together to transition his responsibilities to others."
Rodgers departure caps years of college and professional experience. In 22 years of college coaching, Rodgers amassed a 65-25-5 record as an assistant coach at Air Force, the University of Florida and UCLA. He compiled a 70-60-3 record as head coach at the University of Kansas, UCLS and Georgia Tech.
He was named Big Eight Coach of the Year twice while at Kansas, PAC-10 Coach of the Year twice at UCLA and Southern Independent Coach of the Year twice at Georgia Tech.
He also coached on the professional level in the USFL and CFL.
Some of the major names in college and professional coaching served under Rodger's tutelage, including Terry Donahue, Steve Spurrier, John Cooper and Dick Tomey. Spurrier and Gary Beban, both winners of the Heisman trophy, were coached by Rodgers, as were Hall of Famer John Riggins and future inductee Reggie White.
Rodgers' longstanding relationship with Spurrier played an important part in attracting the college legend to his first top NFL job as coach of the Redskins.
Rodgers got his start as a quarterback and kicker for undefeated Georgia Tech in 1954 and was named MVP of that year's Sugar Bowl. After graduation, he served five years as an Air Force pilot before launching his coaching career.
