News

Johnny Majors, Legendary Tennessee & Pitt Football Coach, Dies At 85

Legendary University of Tennessee and University of Pittsburgh head football coach Johnny Majors died on Wednesday morning at 85. 

Majors led Pittsburgh to a national championship in 1976 going 12-0, five years after the Panthers went 1-10. After winning the national championship, Majors returned to his alma mater in Tennessee where he served as their head coach from 1977-1992. During which time the Volunteers won three SEC championships in 1985, 1989, and 1990. Majors also won SEC Coach of the Year in 1985.

In a statement released by his family, Majors’ wife Mary Lynn Majors announced the death of her husband of 61 years. “It’s with a sad heart that we make this announcement. John passed away this morning. He spent his last hours doing something he dearly loved: looking out over his cherished Tennessee River,” she said.

Majors was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1987. One of Majors’ former players, Charles Davis, commented on the passing of his former coach. “Coach Majors is Tennessee and Tennessee is him. I was fortunate to have played for him and to have been on that 1985 team that won the Sugar Bowl and brought us back in a lot of ways,” he said. “But that was his mission. It’s why he came back to Tennessee. He could have stayed at Pitt and kept kicking butt. But the bottom line is that Tennessee was home for him, and all of us who also consider Tennessee home are fortunate that he did come back.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Both Tennessee and Pittsburgh posted on their social media accounts expressing their sadness in Majors’ passing.

Tennessee:

Tyler Melito

Recent Posts

Diontae Johnson Excited To Move From Panthers To Ravens, Could Help In Playoff Push

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is reportedly settling in well with the Baltimore Ravens after the…

18 hours ago

What Happened To Aaron Judge? After Yankees Fall Short In World Series, Fans Are Asking Questions

Aaron Judge seemed to flip the script on his disastrous World Series and postseason with…

18 hours ago

As The Yankees Collapse In World Series, Free Agency Battle For Juan Soto Begins

The New York Yankees' 2024 season came to a screeching halt Wednesday night when the…

2 days ago

Dodgers Win World Series In Game 5, Yankees Blow Five-Run Lead In Disastrous Finale

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win…

2 days ago

Brad Pitt Makes Surprise Appearance At Mexican Grand Prix To Shoot His Movie, ‘F1’

https://youtu.be/Y69VZZt9rt4 Brad Pitt made a surprise appearance at the Mexican Grand Prix’s practice round on Oct. 26.…

3 days ago

76er’s Joel Embiid Stays In NBA News Even While Not Playing

Joel Embiid’s name came up twice in NBA news this week as he continues to…

4 days ago