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| Position: | End | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | February 3, 1914 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died: | November 23, 1978 (aged 64) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 199 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Chicago (IL) Austin Delafield (WI) St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy | ||||||||||
| College: | Northwestern | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1937 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| As a coach: | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||
| Regular season: | 68–84–8 (.450) | ||||||||||
| Postseason: | 2–0 (1.000) | ||||||||||
| Career: | 70–84–8 (.457) | ||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||||||||
George William Wilson Sr. (February 3, 1914 – November 23, 1978) was a professional football end for the Chicago Bears and later a coach for the National Football League (NFL)'s Detroit Lions and the American Football League (AFL)'s Miami Dolphins. Wilson attended and played football at Northwestern University. He went undrafted in 1937, before being signed by the Chicago Bears. Wilson played for ten seasons with the Bears, compiling overall record of 111 pass receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, and fifteen touchdowns. He was a member of the Bears during their five appearances in the National Football League Championship Game from 1940 to 1943 and 1946. Additionally, he was selected for the NFL All-Star Game from 1940 to 1942. He also played one season of professional basketball for the Chicago Bruins in 1939–40. Wilson won seven championships combined as a player and coach.
His coaching career began with the Bears in 1947, when he became an assistant coach to George Halas. After just two seasons with Chicago, Wilson left in 1949 for another assistant coaching position with the Detroit Lions, a division rival of the Bears. Prior to the 1957 season, he succeeded Buddy Parker as head coach. In his first year as head coach, Wilson guided Detroit to an 8–4 season and victory in the 1957 NFL Championship Game, the most recent league championship for the Lions. For his efforts, Wilson was awarded the first Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award. He remained with the Lions until 1964, though they were unable to replicate their success of 1957. Wilson then served for one year as an assistant coach to the Washington Redskins in 1965. Shortly after the season ended, Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie hired Wilson as the first head coach of the new AFL franchise in 1966. His son, George Wilson Jr., was a starting quarterback during the team's first season. Wilson Sr. was unable to obtain a winning record in his four seasons with Miami. He was fired in February 1970 and replaced by Don Shula.
After being fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Wilson retired from football and entered the construction and real estate business in South Florida. By 1978, he moved back to Michigan, where he died of a heart attack in Detroit on November 23, 1978.