Greg Robinson, the Broncos’ defensive coordinator on their back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1997-98, passed away in California on Wednesday, .
Dominic Robinson said his father, 70, died from a form of Alzheimer’s disease.
During a four-decade coaching career, Robinson spent six years (1995-2000) coaching for the Broncos under Mike Shanahan.
Robinson’s defenses finished among the top 10 in fewest points and fewest yards allowed three times apiece. In 1997, the Broncos were sixth in points and fifth in yards, followed by finishes of eighth and 11th, respectively, in 1998.
Linebacker John Mobley was a first-team All Pro in ’97 and defensive lineman Trevor Pryce a Pro Bowl selection in ’97-’98.
Robinson started his coaching career at Pacific, followed by stops at Cal. State-Fullerton, North Carolina State and UCLA, where his tenure overlapped when Broncos general manager George Paton, who was a player for the Bruins.
Robinson entered the NFL in 1990 with the New York Jets (defensive line coach) and was the team’s defensive coordinator under Pete Carroll in ’94.
Robinson joined the Broncos and the team won at least 11 games in four of his six years. But in 2000, the defense was last against the pass and allowed at least 23 points in 11 games. He was fired after the 21-3 wild-card round loss at Baltimore.
Two weeks later, Robinson was hired by coach Dick Vermeil to run the Kansas City Chiefs defense. He lasted three years.
Robinson moved onto to Texas (one year) and was Syracuse’s head coach for four years, winning only five of 42 games. He finished his career with stints at Michigan, St. Francis High School in California (whose coach, Jim Bonds, was a UCLA player when Robinson was on the staff), Texas and San Jose State.
