Wagstaff was a member of the Idaho State Bengals for four seasons, joining the team as a walk-on. He played quarterback, halfback and defensive back. He was named All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior. Wagstaff was also a four-year member of the Idaho State track team.[2]
Professional careeredit
Wagstaff was selected in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions but was cut during training camp. He took a high school coaching position in Idaho and was invited to Lions camp for a second straight season but was cut a second time after suffering a knee injury.[3] Wagstaff was teaching until was signed by the Chicago Cardinals in November of the 1959 season after the team suffered numerous injuries at the defensive back position and played in two games.[4] He was re-signed by the Cardinals at the end of the season, but was cut on August 1, 1960.[5]
Shortly after being released by the Cardinals, Wagstaff was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the newly-formed American Football League.[6] Wagstaff was named All-AFL in his first season with the Bills after intercepting six passes and returning one for a touchdown. He intercepted three passes in 1961. Wagstaff retired from playing football after suffering a severe injury during training camp in 1962.[3][7]
Coaching career and later lifeedit
After his playing career ended, Wagstaff earned a masters degree in education from Utah State University. After teaching and coaching football at Pocatello High and then Idaho Falls High, he was hired as the defensive coordinator at Boise State. Wagstaff was hired as the Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach in 1973. He was hired by the Bills in 1978, where he remained until he was hired away by the San Diego Chargers in 1981.[8][9] After leaving coaching Wagstaff moved back to Idaho before moving to Kenai, Alaska, where he became the head football coach at Kenai Central High School. Wagstaff died on September 28, 2010.[7]
Referencesedit
^O'Donnell, Michael H. (September 8, 2013). "Fan-tastic obsession: Couple attends all but 1 ISU home football game since 1970". Idaho State Journal.
^"The Assistants". Boise State College 1970 Press Book. 1970. p. 5.
^ abMiller, Jeffrey J. (2007). Rockin' the Rockpile: The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. ECW Press. ISBN9781550227970.
^"Chicago Picks Up Jim Wagstaff For Added Defensive Strength". Idaho State Journal. NewspaperArchive.com. November 4, 1959.
^Gehman, Jim (2007). Then Levy Said to Kelly--: The Best Buffalo Bills Stories Ever Told. Triumph Books. ISBN9781600780554. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
^"The San Diego Chargers have named Jim Wagstaff, 44,..." United Press International. February 10, 1981. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
External linksedit
Idaho State Hall of Fame profile
May 03, 2024
wagstaff, june, 1936, september, 2010, american, professional, football, player, coach, played, safety, national, football, league, american, football, league, later, assistant, coach, personal, informationborn, 1936, june, 1936american, falls, idaho, died, se. Jim Wagstaff June 12 1936 September 28 2010 was an American professional football player and coach He played as a safety in the National Football League NFL and the American Football League AFL He was later an assistant coach Jim WagstaffPersonal informationBorn 1936 06 12 June 12 1936American Falls Idaho U S Died September 28 2010 2010 09 28 aged 74 Idaho Falls Idaho U S Height 6 ft 2 in 1 88 m Weight 192 lb 87 kg Career informationHigh school American FallsCollege Idaho StatePosition SafetyNFL draft 1958 Round 21 Pick 253Career historyAs a player Detroit Lions 1958 1959 Chicago Cardinals 1959 Buffalo Bills 1960 1962 Offseason and or practice squad member onlyAs a coach Boise State 1969 1972 DC Los Angeles Rams 1973 1978 DB Buffalo Bills 1978 1980 DB San Diego Chargers 1981 1986 DB Career highlights and awardsSecond team All AFL 1960 All RMC 1957 Career NFL statisticsGames played 30Interceptions 9Player stats at PFR Wagstaff played college football for Idaho State Bengals He played in the NFL for the Chicago Cardinals before joining the AFL s Buffalo Bills He earned second team All AFL honors in 1960 After his playing career he was a defensive coordinator in college for the Boise State Broncos before becoming a secondary coach in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers Contents 1 Early life and high school 2 College career 3 Professional career 4 Coaching career and later life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and high school editWagstaff was born and grew up in American Falls Idaho and attended American Falls High School 1 College career editWagstaff was a member of the Idaho State Bengals for four seasons joining the team as a walk on He played quarterback halfback and defensive back He was named All Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior Wagstaff was also a four year member of the Idaho State track team 2 Professional career editWagstaff was selected in the 21st round of the 1958 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions but was cut during training camp He took a high school coaching position in Idaho and was invited to Lions camp for a second straight season but was cut a second time after suffering a knee injury 3 Wagstaff was teaching until was signed by the Chicago Cardinals in November of the 1959 season after the team suffered numerous injuries at the defensive back position and played in two games 4 He was re signed by the Cardinals at the end of the season but was cut on August 1 1960 5 Shortly after being released by the Cardinals Wagstaff was signed by the Buffalo Bills of the newly formed American Football League 6 Wagstaff was named All AFL in his first season with the Bills after intercepting six passes and returning one for a touchdown He intercepted three passes in 1961 Wagstaff retired from playing football after suffering a severe injury during training camp in 1962 3 7 Coaching career and later life editAfter his playing career ended Wagstaff earned a masters degree in education from Utah State University After teaching and coaching football at Pocatello High and then Idaho Falls High he was hired as the defensive coordinator at Boise State Wagstaff was hired as the Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach in 1973 He was hired by the Bills in 1978 where he remained until he was hired away by the San Diego Chargers in 1981 8 9 After leaving coaching Wagstaff moved back to Idaho before moving to Kenai Alaska where he became the head football coach at Kenai Central High School Wagstaff died on September 28 2010 7 References edit O Donnell Michael H September 8 2013 Fan tastic obsession Couple attends all but 1 ISU home football game since 1970 Idaho State Journal The Assistants Boise State College 1970 Press Book 1970 p 5 a b Miller Jeffrey J 2007 Rockin the Rockpile The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League ECW Press ISBN 9781550227970 Chicago Picks Up Jim Wagstaff For Added Defensive Strength Idaho State Journal NewspaperArchive com November 4 1959 Wagstaff Signs With St Louis Cards in NFL Idaho State Journal May 13 1960 Retrieved March 14 2022 via NewspaperArchive Bailey Budd Jim Wagstaff PDF Professional Football Researchers Association Retrieved March 14 2022 a b James Burke Wagstaff Obituary coltrinmortuary com Gehman Jim 2007 Then Levy Said to Kelly The Best Buffalo Bills Stories Ever Told Triumph Books ISBN 9781600780554 Retrieved July 6 2020 The San Diego Chargers have named Jim Wagstaff 44 United Press International February 10 1981 Retrieved July 6 2020 External links editIdaho State Hall of Fame profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Wagstaff amp oldid 1188472548, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
