Professional Football Player, Coach. He played both sides of the ball for the National Football League's Chicago Bears from 1940 to 1947 and then served as the head of the Green Bay Packers during the 1958 season. He played both football and basketball at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire before joining the Chicago Bears of the NFL, who had selected him during the 1940 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears for eight seasons, starring on all sides of the ball (offense, defense, and special teams) and playing on four Bears NFL Championship teams (1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946). McLean will always be remembered for being one of the last players to perform a dropkick during a game. He went on to coaching, both in college and professional, before becoming co-head coach of the Green Bay Packers (along with Hugh Devore) during the 1953 season following the resignation of head coach Gene Ronzani. After the season McLean was retained by new Packer head coach Lisle Blackbourn as an offensive backfield coach and served in this position until taking over from Blackbourn after the 1957 season. McLean served as the Packers' head coach during the 1958 season and after a 1-10-1 record, was fired and replaced by the legendary Vince Lombardi. He went on to the Detroit Lions to be offensive backfield coach from 1959 to 1963. McLean was diagnosed with cancer in 1963 and lost his battle with the disease a year later.
Professional Football Player, Coach. He played both sides of the ball for the National Football League's Chicago Bears from 1940 to 1947 and then served as the head of the Green Bay Packers during the 1958 season. He played both football and basketball at St. Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire before joining the Chicago Bears of the NFL, who had selected him during the 1940 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears for eight seasons, starring on all sides of the ball (offense, defense, and special teams) and playing on four Bears NFL Championship teams (1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946). McLean will always be remembered for being one of the last players to perform a dropkick during a game. He went on to coaching, both in college and professional, before becoming co-head coach of the Green Bay Packers (along with Hugh Devore) during the 1953 season following the resignation of head coach Gene Ronzani. After the season McLean was retained by new Packer head coach Lisle Blackbourn as an offensive backfield coach and served in this position until taking over from Blackbourn after the 1957 season. McLean served as the Packers' head coach during the 1958 season and after a 1-10-1 record, was fired and replaced by the legendary Vince Lombardi. He went on to the Detroit Lions to be offensive backfield coach from 1959 to 1963. McLean was diagnosed with cancer in 1963 and lost his battle with the disease a year later.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
Family Members
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See more McLean memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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