National championship-winning John Majors has passed away at 85. The exact circumstances of his passing have not been made public at time of writing. Although he was at home in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Pitt football’s Twitter account tweeted out a remembrance on Wednesday.
John Majors, 1935-2020.
He led us to our greatest glory and changed Pitt forever.
Thank you, Coach. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/bPs4OEoQXW
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) June 3, 2020
Majors was a halfback at the University of Tennessee before taking his talents to the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes. After one year, he rejoined his alma matter as an assistant coach in 1957.
He got his first head coaching job at Iowa State in 1968, coaching four seasons before moving to Pitt. Despite only coaching at Pitt for three years, he is most well-known there for winning the National Championship in 1976. He recruited and coached two Heisman Trophy winners in Pittsburgh as well.
After the National Championship season, he went back to his alma mater again, this time to be the head coach. Majors spent 15 years as the Volunteer’s head coach, until 1993 when he spent three more years with Pitt as his last ride.
His record of 185-137-10 includes one national title and three SEC titles.
Featured Image courtesy of Harry Cabluck/AP
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