PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Monte Coleman, the tough, durable linebacker who helped Washington win three Super Bowls and later coached Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a conference title, has died. He was 68. UAPB and the Washington Commanders announced his death Sunday; no cause was disclosed.
Commanders owner Josh Harris called Coleman one of the greatest players in Washington history, a pillar of the team’s championship defenses whose durability and leadership set the standard for wearing the Burgundy & Gold.
Born Nov. 4, 1957, in Pine Bluff, Coleman walked on at Central Arkansas and was drafted by Washington in the 11th round in 1979. He spent all 16 NFL seasons with the franchise, appearing in 215 regular-season games — second in team history behind Hall of Famer Darrell Green — and ranks second in franchise history in solo tackles. Coleman is a member of Washington’s Ring of Honor.
Then-general manager Charley Casserly reflected at Coleman’s 1995 retirement that while Coleman may not have invented the nickel-linebacker role, he elevated it to a level not seen since.
Coleman later returned to UAPB as a linebackers coach and became head coach after the 2007 season. He led the program for a decade and guided the Golden Lions to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in 2012.
UAPB athletic director Chris Robinson said Coleman embodied the values the university strives for — excellence, integrity and an unrelenting commitment to developing student-athletes — and that his legacy is written both in titles and in the lives he touched.
Coleman will be remembered for his relentlessness on the field and his longtime devotion to his players and his community.