Joe Collier, who led the Bills for three years before serving as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator for 17 seasons, has passed away at the age of 91. The Broncos announced his death on Tuesday.
Collier was known as the mastermind behind the 3-4 defense and played a pivotal role in guiding the Broncos to Super Bowl appearances in 1977, 1986, and 1987.
Beginning as the defensive backs coach in Denver from 1969 to 1971, he later assumed the role of defensive coordinator from 1972 to 1988. Afterward, he returned to the NFL in 1991 as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator for two seasons.
Before his tenure with the Broncos, Collier coached the Bills from 1966 to 1968, leading them to an AFL Championship game in his inaugural year, where they fell to the Chiefs.
Collier’s football journey began as a standout receiver at Northwestern University, where he earned All-American honors in 1951 and 1952. Although drafted by the Giants in 1954, he never played professionally, opting instead to serve three years in the military before embarking on his coaching career.
