Ralph Hawkins
- September 9, 2004
- 69 years
- dementia
About Ralph Hawkins
Ralph Hawkins, 69, American football coach, dementia.
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Full Biography
|Ralph Hawkins (May 4, 1935 – September 9, 2004) was an American football coach. He worked 35 years in the National Football League (NFL) for nine teams. In addition to a long career as a college coach, Hawkins coached some of the top defensive units in the NFL.
Early years
Hawkins played at St. John's High School in Washington, D.C., winning Catholic league championships in baseball, basketball and football. During the '52-'53 school year, Hawkins was 1st team POST All Met in both Football and Basketball. After high school Hawkins attended the University of Maryland on a football scholarship, where he played quarterback, running back and defensive back. Hawkins played in the 1955 Orange Bowl, and later graduated with a degree in physical education.
College coaching
Hawkins had a brief playing stint with the New York Titans before becoming head coach of football and an assistant basketball coach at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia in 1958. In June, 1959, he was replaced as head football coach by his St John's and Maryland teammate Bob Rusevlyan to return to the University of Maryland to complete his studies and help coach the Freshman football team. Hawkins served as graduate assistant at the University of Maryland, and went on to coach at several colleges: Southern Methodist University, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati.
NFL years
Hawkins began his NFL coaching career with the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1971. He then served the Washington Redskins as a defensive assistant under George Allen from 1972 to 1977. In his first year on the staff, the Redskins advanced to Super Bowl VII, where they lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins. During Hawkins' time in Washington, the Redskins posted a record of 58–26, making the playoffs four times. The defense ranked in the top five of the league three times.
After spending one year with the Baltimore Colts, Hawkins moved on to the New York Giants, where he was linebackers coach and defensive coordinator from 1979 to 1980, before being fired on January 6, 1981.
From the Giants, Hawkins went to coach for the Buffalo Bills under head coach Chuck Knox and followed him to the Seattle Seahawks. Hawkins coached the secondary from 1983 to 88, during which time his unit was one of the best in the league. In 1983, the Seahawks entered the playoffs as a wildcard team and advanced to the conference championship game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders. The 1984 team finished with a 12–4 record, losing in the divisional playoffs to the Miami Dolphins. The 1984 Seahawks' secondary led the league with 38 interceptions The Seahawks intercepted 149 passes during Hawkins' six years in Seattle, second only to the San Francisco 49ers. Hawkins contributed to Seahawk teams that had a combined record of 57–38 from 1983 to 1988, including four playoff appearances and an AFC West Division title in 1988.
Hawkins coached one season as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 1989, then spent the remainder of his career as a scout. He scouted for the Arizona Cardinals (1991–93), the Carolina Panthers (1994–97), the Indianapolis Colts (1998–99) and the Houston Texans (2000–02).
Death
A resident of Fenwick Island, Delaware, Hawkins died September 9, 2004, in Berlin, Maryland. He suffered from Pick's Disease, a neurological disorder that causes frontotemporal dementia.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Hawkins_(American_football)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Ralph Hawkins's archived record and the sources above.
1.At which high school did Ralph Hawkins play sports during his early years?
- A.St. John's High Schoolcorrect
- B.West Point High School
- C.Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School
- D.Fenwick Island High School
Ralph Hawkins played at St. John's High School in Washington, D.C.
Source: Early years section
2.What degree did Ralph Hawkins earn from the University of Maryland?
- A.Physical educationcorrect
- B.Sports management
- C.History
- D.Business administration
Ralph Hawkins graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in physical education.
Source: Early years section
3.In 1958, Ralph Hawkins became the head football coach at which school?
- A.St. John's High School
- B.Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High Schoolcorrect
- C.University of Kentucky
- D.Southern Methodist University
In 1958, Ralph Hawkins became head football coach at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia.
Source: College coaching section
4.Who replaced Ralph Hawkins as head football coach at Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in 1959?
- A.Bob Rusevlyancorrect
- B.Chuck Knox
- C.George Allen
- D.John Smith
In June 1959, Ralph Hawkins was replaced by his St. John's and Maryland teammate Bob Rusevlyan.
Source: College coaching section
5.With which NFL team did Ralph Hawkins begin his NFL coaching career in 1969?
- A.Baltimore Colts
- B.New York Giants
- C.Buffalo Billscorrect
- D.Washington Redskins
Ralph Hawkins began his NFL coaching career with the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1971.
Source: NFL years section
6.Under which head coach did Ralph Hawkins serve as a defensive assistant for the Washington Redskins?
- A.Bob Rusevlyan
- B.George Allencorrect
- C.Chuck Knox
- D.Vince Lombardi
Ralph Hawkins served the Washington Redskins as a defensive assistant under George Allen from 1972 to 1977.
Source: NFL years section
7.On what date was Ralph Hawkins fired from his position with the New York Giants?
- A.January 6, 1981correct
- B.September 9, 1981
- C.December 31, 1980
- D.January 6, 1980
Ralph Hawkins was fired from the New York Giants on January 6, 1981.
Source: NFL years section
8.How many interceptions did the 1984 Seattle Seahawks secondary record under Ralph Hawkins?
- A.58
- B.149
- C.38correct
- D.26
The 1984 Seattle Seahawks' secondary led the league with 38 interceptions.
Source: NFL years section
9.In 1989, Ralph Hawkins served as the defensive coordinator for which team?
- A.New York Jetscorrect
- B.Buffalo Bills
- C.Seattle Seahawks
- D.Arizona Cardinals
Ralph Hawkins coached one season as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 1989.
Source: NFL years section
10.For which team did Ralph Hawkins work as a scout between 2000 and 2002?
- A.Arizona Cardinals
- B.Houston Texanscorrect
- C.Carolina Panthers
- D.Indianapolis Colts
Ralph Hawkins scouted for the Houston Texans from 2000 to 2002.
Source: NFL years section
11.Where was Ralph Hawkins residing at the time of his death?
- A.Arlington, Virginia
- B.Fenwick Island, Delawarecorrect
- C.Berlin, Maryland
- D.Washington, D.C.
Ralph Hawkins was a resident of Fenwick Island, Delaware, when he died.
Source: Death section
12.On what date did Ralph Hawkins pass away?
- A.May 4, 2004
- B.September 9, 2004correct
- C.January 6, 2004
- D.December 9, 2004
Ralph Hawkins died on September 9, 2004.
Source: Death section
13.Which medical condition did Ralph Hawkins suffer from near the end of his life?
- A.Pick's Diseasecorrect
- B.Multiple Sclerosis
- C.Alzheimer's Disease
- D.Parkinson's Disease
Ralph Hawkins suffered from Pick's Disease, a neurological disorder that causes frontotemporal dementia.
Source: Death section
14.How many years did Ralph Hawkins work in the National Football League?
- A.25
- B.40
- C.35correct
- D.30
Ralph Hawkins worked 35 years in the National Football League.
Source: Biography introduction
15.On what date was Ralph Hawkins born?
- A.May 4, 1935correct
- B.September 9, 1935
- C.June 9, 1935
- D.May 4, 1945
Ralph Hawkins was born on May 4, 1935.
Source: Biography introduction
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