Lonnie Warwick

Lonnie Warwick
No. 59
Date of birth(1942-02-26)February 26, 1942
Place of birthRaleigh, West Virginia, U.S.
Date of deathOctober 28, 2024(2024-10-28) (aged 82)
Career information
Position(s)Linebacker
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight238 lb (108 kg)
US collegeTennessee (1960)
Tennessee Tech (1961–1963)
High schoolMount Hope (WV)
NFL draft1964 / round:
Career history
As player
1965–1972Minnesota Vikings
1973–1974Atlanta Falcons
1975San Antonio Wings
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Lonnie Preston Warwick (February 26, 1942 – October 28, 2024) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons. He started in Super Bowl IV.

College career

Lonnie attended Mount Hope High School in Mount Hope, West Virginia, where he participated in the 1959 state championship game, was named all-state in both football and basketball, and graduated in 1960.[1] In 2013, Warwick was inducted to the West Virginia North-South Football Hall of Fame.[2] He attended at the University of Tennessee for a year. Transferring within a year, Warwick and played college football for Tennessee Tech, where he is a member of the Tennessee Tech Hall of Fame.[1]

NFL career

Warwick ended up working for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Arizona for a year, before signing a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 1964.[1][3] He became the starting middle linebacker of the legendary Purple People Eaters Vikings defense of the late 1960s and early 1970s.[4] He was named the "meanest man" in football by former teammate Joe Kapp.[5]

Warwick led the Vikings in tackles for four years, and returned a blocked punt (gridiron football) for a touchdown in 1965.[6] He had four interceptions and recovered two fumbles during the 1969 season, and caught three interceptions in 1970.[4][7] He was the starting linebacker in Super Bowl IV, where the Kansas City Chiefs upset the heavily favored Vikings.[4] Warwick played despite spraining his left ankle during the National Football League Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns the previous week.[8] He was injured with knee problems for most of 1971, where he played four games, and 1972, playing just six games. The 1972 injury led the Vikings to insert rookie Jeff Siemon into the lineup at middle linebacker, and Siemon held the position through 1981.[7][9] He became a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 1973, after being unable to reach a contract agreement with the Vikings. He played for the Falcons in all fourteen games in both 1973 and 1974 before retiring.[7][9] In 1975, Warwick came out of retirement to play for the San Antonio Wings of the World Football League, which folded before the end of season.[10]

After football

Warwick became a coach for the Washington Redskins for several years, where he also occasionally suited up as a player.[1][4] He coached at Salem University, semi-professional teams in West Virginia, and with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League.[1] He later resided in Mount Hope in Fayette County, West Virginia, where he helped out local high school football teams.[4]

Warwick died on October 28, 2024, at the age of 82.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Warwick to join N–S Hall of Fame". Fayette Tribune. June 10, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  2. ^ Rollins, J. Daniel (July 21, 2013). "Mount Hope's Warwick recalls legendary career". The Register-Herald. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Olson, Jack (July 20, 1970). "A Man of Machismo". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Woodson, Brian (June 2, 2007). "Warwick's NFL memories are still vivid". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Kaine, Elinor (January 3, 1970). "Meanest Man in Pro Football: Rams' Warwick, says Kapp". The Miami News. Retrieved March 1, 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "50 Seasons of Minnesota Vikings Football: Lonnie Warwick". Vikings.com. National Football League. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Lonnie Warwick NFL Football Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Warwick Will Play Despite Leg Injury". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. January 7, 1970. p. 14. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Major Trade Between Atlanta and Minnesota". Wilmington Star News. United Press International. May 15, 1973. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  10. ^ Griffin, By Tim (August 3, 2015). "Wings gave S.A. early taste of pro football". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Vikings Mourn Deaths of Lonnie Warwick and John Campbell". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.