PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Monte Coleman, the hard-nosed linebacker who won three Super Bowls with Washington and later coached Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a conference title, has died. He was 68. UAPB and the Commanders announced his death Sunday; no cause was disclosed.
“Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history,” Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris said. “He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl-winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.”
Born Nov. 4, 1957, in Pine Bluff, Coleman walked on at the University of Central Arkansas and was selected by Washington in the 11th round of the 1979 draft. He spent his entire 16-season NFL career with the franchise, appearing in 215 regular-season games — second in team history behind Hall of Famer Darrell Green — and ranking second in franchise solo tackles. He is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor.
“He may not have invented the position of nickel linebacker,” then-GM Charley Casserly said at Coleman’s 1995 retirement, “but he rose it to a level which has not been seen since.”
After his playing career Coleman returned to UAPB as a linebackers coach and became head coach following the 2007 season. He led the Golden Lions for a decade and guided them to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012.
“Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB,” athletic director Chris Robinson said. “Excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes. His legacy is not only written in championships and honors, but in the lives he changed every single day.”