Les Steckel
Vietnam Veteran, Super Bowl Coach, and Former President of FCA
In his own words…
On the Field
Les Steckel began his careers as a football coach at the University of Colorado from 1973 to 1976. He was an assistant at Navy in 1977, then an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers in 1978. Steckel joined the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff as the receivers coach in 1979 and remained an assistant coach through the 1983 season. He was promoted to head coach of the Vikings for the 1984 season after longtime coach Bud Grant retired. As a coach with a military background, Steckel emphasized discipline. Starting in 1995, he coached five years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, where he helped lead them to Super Bowl XXXIV as Offensive Coordinator.
Off the Field
Steckel became president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on March 1, 2005 after taking time off to coach his son's high school team. During his one year of coaching at the high school, the team won the Tennessee state high school championship. His book, One Yard Short, tells the story of his faith and how his relationship with God was a part of his coaching career and life afterwards.
