Monte Coleman, a career Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders) and three-time Super Bowl champion, has passed away at the age of 68.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) announced Coleman’s death on 26 April. 

On their official X page, the Washington Commanders made a statement mourning their loss the following day. As of this moment, no cause of death has been reported.  

“We mourn the loss of one of the greatest to ever suit up in the Burgundy & Gold, Monte Coleman," the X post read. "Our heartfelt condolences are with his loved ones.”

Josh Harris, the franchise’s managing partner, also offered his condolences and praised Coleman’s contribution to the team.

“Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history,” Washington’s Harris said on 27 April. “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.”

Coleman was drafted in 1979 as an 11th-round pick and played in the NFL for 16 seasons until his retirement in 1994. His career-best performance came in the 1984 season when he recorded 10.5 sacks across 16 games.

He appeared in 215 regular-season games and made 62 starts. In those 16 years, Coleman recorded 999 solo tackles, the second most in the franchise’s history.

His 49.5 sacks particularly stand out among the most (in the top 10) for the franchise. 

After he retired from the NFL after the 1994 season, the Pine Bluff native returned to the UAPB as a coach.

Monte Coleman Returned To His Arkansas Roots After NFL Retirement

Coleman was accepted into the University of Central Arkansas in 1975. Although he started as a safety, he converted to linebacker by his senior season, when he set a then-program record of 22 interceptions. 

Coleman’s journey came full circle at Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions, moving from linebackers coach to head coach at the University of Arkansas after 2007 and holding the reins for a decade, highlighted by a SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) title in 2012.

"Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB," athletic director Chris Robinson said, according to ESPN. "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."

In his later years, he served as the executive director of Students of Achievement and Responsibility (SOAR) and as an assistant pastor at a local church. 

Life has come full circle for Coleman, whose son Kyle is also a linebacker. He played for the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers. 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote