Monte Leon Coleman, an iconic member of the legendary Super Bowl champion Redskins teams of the 1980s and ’90s has died at the age of 68.
The versatile linebacker, who spent his entire 16-season NFL career with Washington, was known for his durability and quiet leadership.
“Monte Coleman was one of the greatest players in Washington history,” Commanders owner Josh Harris said in a statement posted online Sunday. “He was one of the pillars of our championship defenses having played for all three Super Bowl-winning teams. His durability and leadership set the standard for what it meant to suit up for the Burgundy & Gold.”
Born in 1957 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Coleman grew up with a passion for sports, later becoming a hometown hero.
Despite not playing high school football, he became a star walk-on at the University of Central Arkansas, playing safety for three years and chalking up 22 interceptions before shifting to linebacker. He became the first player from the school taken in the NFL draft when he was chosen by Washington in the 11th round in 1979.
“The Musketeer” defied odds to become one of the team’s most beloved players. He played 215 games for Washington from 1979 to 1994, ranking second in franchise history behind only Hall of Famer Darrell Green.
Coleman was a vital utility player who excelled in various defensive roles, contributing to three Super Bowl championships (1983, 1988 and 1992). He recorded over 1,000 tackles and 43.5 sacks.
In 2002, he was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins and was inducted into the Commanders Ring of Honor in 2015. He ranks second in franchise history in solo tackles.
“He may not have invented the position of nickel linebacker,” then-general manager Charley Casserly said when Coleman retired in 1995. “But he rose it to a level which has not been seen since.”
After his playing career, Coleman returned to his hometown, serving as the football coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) from 2008 to 2017, leading the team to a SWAC conference championship in 2012.
“Coach Coleman represented everything we strive for at UAPB,” Pine Bluff athletic director Chris Robinson said. “Excellence, integrity, and a relentless commitment to developing our student-athletes. His legacy is not only written in championships and honors, but in the lives he changed every single day.”
He is remembered as a man of integrity and excellence, not just on the field, but as a mentor to students and as a community member in Pine Bluff.
He is survived by his family and a legacy that will long be celebrated in Washington and Arkansas.
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