Ex-Packers, Colts coach Infante dies
Lindy Infante, the hardluck former coach of the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts, died Thursday. He was 75.
Infante’s wife, Stephanie, said he died in St. Augustine after a lengthy illness.
Infante was a head coach for six years in the NFL, compiling a 36-60 record. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 1989 with Green Bay, but his only postseason appearance came in 1996 when his Colts lost a wild card game to Pittsburgh, 42-14.
“He was the consummate father, husband & coach,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said on Twitter.
Harbaugh was the Colts’ starting quarterback in 1996. The next year, the Colts finished 3-13 and Infante was out of a job after two seasons with a 12-20 record. Indianapolis drafted quarterback Peyton Manning the following offseason.
There was bad timing at Infante’s first head-coaching stop in Green Bay, too. He went 24-40 from 19881991. After the Packers finished 4-12 in his final season, the team overhauled its front office, and the following year general manager Ron Wolf acquired Brett Favre from the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers reasserted themselves as one of the league’s top teams.
Infante also had stints as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals (1982) and Cleveland Browns (1986-87).
Infante coached the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL in 1984 and 1985. He played college football at Florida from 1960-62.
Dolphins: Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle was fired by new interim coach Dan Campbell.
The move came after the Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin on Monday and promoted tight ends coach Campbell.
Miami ranks last in the NFL in rushing defense at 160.5 yards per game, and last with one sack despite the offseason addition of $114 million tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Cowboys: Linebacker Sean Lee returned to the field for the first time since suffering a concussion in the first quarter of the Cowboys’ overtime loss to New Orleans on Sunday.
Lee, who is going through the NFL’s protocol for head injuries, was active in drills during the portion of the practice open to the media and appears to be on track to play Sunday against New England.
Bears: Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery’s ailing hamstring continues to limit him, and this Sunday he could miss his fourth consecutive game.
Jeffery did not fully participate in practice, as the Bears continue to prepare for their trip to Kansas City to play the Chiefs.
49ers: Linebacker Ahmad Brooks left the team this week after his sister, Krsunthia Brooks, died of lupus, according to the player’s agent. Brooks will not play Sunday against the Giants.
Titans: Cornerback Jason McCourty finally is ready for his season debut Sunday following groin surgery Aug. 24.
Packers: Davante Adams remained out of practice with a sprained left ankle and fellow wideout James Jones was added to the injury list with a sore hamstring. Jones was limited in practice.