To date, Don Shinnick holds the National Football League record for career interceptions by a linebacker. From 1958 to 1969, he snagged the ball from his opponents 37 times.
The Kansas City, Mo., native grew up in Los Angeles and was an All-American linebacker at UCLA before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1957 as a second-round draft pick. He was the first UCLA athlete to make it to the Super Bowl.
After leaving the field as a player, Shinnick returned as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Oakland Raiders, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs. He retired from coaching at the end of the 1990 season and was inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
Shinnick died on Jan. 20 from degenerative brain disease. He was 68.
Don Shinnick was one of my Colt heros, on and off the field. He was more than an unsung hero of the defense, but a true role model more athelets should follow. His passing is a deep loss to me. I pray for his family's comfort and peace at his passing.
Posted by Mark Robinson on February 20, 2004 2:50 PMDon Shinnick came to the University of Missouri in 1986 to speak to students about motivation. I remember how captivating a speaker he was, and unafraid to talk about spirituality as being the core of reference for every challenge we face. I remember the way hundreds of students were so quiet, listening to him say, "Not everything that happens is good. But everything works together for good." It's a thought that has been a comfort and a source of power to me many times over the years. Today I was cleaning the basement and I found a box containing that day's program in it. Although I had forgotten his name, I remembered the speech so frequently and was thrilled to be able to now find out who that football coach was that inspired me, a theatre major.
Posted by Johanna on September 22, 2004 10:38 AMI am crushed by the loss of a great man. I grew up with the Shinnick family while he was working as a linebacker coach for the Oakland Raiders. He was a local hero that had all his priorities in line. He was very involved in our local Church and ran the Fellowship of Christian athletes for the High school. He guided so many of us on to the Lord and had time for everyone. You would have never guessed he was a NFL star by talking to him (only by looking at him) I know he is missed but I know where he is. My heart goes out to his family for comfort and peace. He will be missed!!!
Posted by Brad Pembroke on October 7, 2005 1:50 PMalthough we have the same last name i never met mr don shinnick but its one of my deepest regrets from a man who loves the game of football witha passion he truly will be missed and is hall of fame and here in my book thank you
Posted by craig shinnick on January 30, 2008 10:53 PMI am just finding out that Don Shinnick died in 2004. I remember him very well, having grown up in Baltimore during the 1960s as a Colts fan. A very good linebacker whose last NFL coaching job was with his former teammate whom he led to Christ in 1960, the great receiver Raymond Berry.
I am saddened to hear of his passing from frontal lobe dementia, the same malady that affects his Hall of Fame teammate, former tight end John Mackey. I wonder if this was a football-related disease, as is the case with Mackey and numerous other former NFL players such as Gene Hickerson-inducted into the Hall of Fame last year-Willie Wood and Larry Morris, to name a few.
This very morning I was reading his inspirational biography, Always a Winner, which my mother purchased for me in 1969-he was released from the Colts at mid-season that year-from a Christian bookstore in Baltimore. I have always been impressed by his sincere and nonjudgemental Christian witness. He has left a spiritual legacy that lives on beyond his death. I realize another link to my childhood and youth has passed into memory, just like other great Colts of that era such as Johnny U. and Jim Parker.
Posted by Baltimorean on June 20, 2008 11:17 AM