Cal football great, NFL coach Hanifan dies

Jim Hanifan, who led the nation in receiving with Cal in 1954 and had a long career as an NFL assistant coach that culminated with a Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams, has died at 87.

Hanifan’s daughter, Kathy Hinder, told the St. Louis PostDispatch that he died Tuesday at Missouri Baptist Hospital. She said the cause of death hasn’t been determined, but said it wasn’t related to COVID19.

Hanifan was elected to Cal’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 for a standout career at both defensive end and tight end. The team captain in 1954, he led the nation with 44 receptions for 569 yards and seven touchdowns.

His collegiate coaching career included a twoyear stint (197071) as an assistant to Ray Willsey at Cal.

Hanifan’s NFL career began as an offensive line coach with the St. Louis Cardinals (197378), coaching renowned tackle Dan Dierdorf and notorious guard Conrad Dobler. Hanifan was head coach of the Cardinals from 1980 through ’85, going 39491 and reaching the playoffs in 1982.

Apart from a short interim stint with the Atlanta Falcons in 1989, Hanifan was not a head coach again but was considered a top offensive line coach, winning a Super Bowl ring after the 1991 season with Washington.

He finished his career returning to the city he had come to love, serving as offensive line coach of the St. Louis Rams under Dick Vermeil and winning his second Super Bowl ring after the 1999 season.