Texans coach Gary Kubiak took a break from draft meetings at Reliant Stadium on Monday morning to attend the funeral of Jack Pardee.
Pardee, the former University of Houston and Houston Oilers head coach, died from cancer last week at 76. He was memorialized Monday at St. Michael Catholic Church in Houston.
"I know him from Texas A&M – he's a great Aggie, former Aggie, and obviously his record as a coach and player speaks for itself," Kubiak said on Monday afternoon. "It was impressive today. He touched a lot of lives. There were a lot of familiar faces in the church today."
Kubiak's relationship with Pardee went beyond football. His sons grew up with Pardee's grandchildren and attended the same school in Denver.
"Great man and tremendous family," Kubiak said.
Pardee was an All-American linebacker at A&M and a two-time All-Pro with the Los Angeles Rams (1963) and Washington Redskins (1971). He was head coach of the Chicago Bears, Redskins, Houston Gamblers (1984-85) of the USFL and Oilers (1990-94). He coached the University of Houston from 1987-89, helping quarterback Andre Ware win the 1989 Heisman Trophy in the "Run and Shoot" offense.
Pardee coached Hall of Famers such as Walter Payton, Jim Kelly and Warren Moon at the professional level. He played under Bear Bryant at A&M and Hall of Fame coach George Allen in the NFL.
"I was looking today at all the places he coached and his playing career and how he ended up with George Allen (with the Washington Redskins) as part of one of the first blockbuster trades in football," Kubiak said. "His roots in football are tremendous throughout his life."
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