Former NFL head coach Lindy Infante passes away at 75

Former NFL head coach Lindy Infante passed away at the age of 75 on Wednesday after what his wife described as a lengthy illness.

Infante, best known for his four-year stint as the Green Bay Packers head coach before Mike Holmgren took over in 1992, also coached the Indianapolis Colts in 1996 and 1997. In his six years as a NFL head coach, Infante led his teams to a winning record twice with one playoff appearance. He was the Colts head coach in the two years leading up to the Peyton Manning era.

A running back under the legendary Ray Graves at Florida from 1960-1962, Infante earned an All-SEC selection in his final season with the Gators and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.

His coaching career started as an assistant for Miami Senior High School in 1965 before he coached for the Gators for six seasons under the aforementioned Graves as well as Doug Dickey.

Infante's first taste of coaching in the NFL came with the New York Giants in 1977 when he headed up the team's wide receiver group. After that, he was the offensive coordinator for both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns before taking the Packers job.

Upon retiring from football, Infante settled down with his family in Florida. Back in 2011, he had this to say about his career and a final decision to move on from the game he loved:

"I was a workaholic for a long time," Infante said. "It's nice to look out my window, see the ocean and beach, and just be with your wife and family when you want to."

Former Packers defensive back LeRoy Butler was informed of Infante's death on Thursday. He indicated that the ex-coach had passed away from pneumonia.

Infante is survived by his wife of 50 years, Stephanie.

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