LaVern Torgeson

LaVern Torgeson
No. 53
PositionsLinebacker
Center
Personal information
Born(1929-02-28)February 28, 1929
La Crosse, Washington, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 2015(2015-03-20) (aged 86)
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
CollegeWashington State
NFL draft1951: 5th round, 58th overall pick
Career history
Playing
Coaching
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions18
Fumble recoveries6
Total touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference

LaVern Earl "Torgy" Torgeson (February 28, 1929 – March 20, 2015) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars from 1948 through 1950. Torgeson played in the NFL for seven seasons, principally as a linebacker, for the Detroit Lions from 1951 to 1954 and for the Washington Redskins from 1955 to 1957.

After retiring as a player, Torgeson worked for 35 years from 1959 to 1993 as an assistant coach in the NFL. His coaching positions included stints with the Washington Redskins (1959–1961, 1971–1977, 1981–1993), Pittsburgh Steelers (1962–1968), and Los Angeles Rams (1969–1970, 1978–1980). He was a coach on three Super Bowl championship teams in 1982, 1987, and 1991. As a player and coach, he spent 42 years in the NFL, 26 of them with the Redskins.