Former Giant Harland Svare, Rams, Chargers coach dies at 89

Harland Svare, a starting linebacker on Giants’ 1956 NFL championship team and later team’s defensive coach while still a player, has died, He was 89.

Yampa Valley Funeral Home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado reported that Svare died on April 4 on its website. New York Times was first to report death.

For many years, Svare also held distinction of being NFL's youngest head coach at 31 years, 11 months. He was elevated from defensive line coach to head coach by Los Angeles Rams midway through 1962 season.

Lane Kiffin of Raiders and Sean McVay, Rams’ current coach, subsequently were made head coaches at younger s.

Svare was a 17th-round draft choice of Rams in 1953 out of Washington State. After two seasons, he joined Giants prior to 1955 season.

In coach Tom Landry’s defense, Svare lined up at left linebacker, next to Hall of Fame middle linebacker Sam Huff. He started all 13 games in 1956, including 47-7 rout of Chicago Bears in championship game. Svare also played in championship games loss to Baltimore Colts in 1958 – “Greatest Game Ever Played” – and 1959.

Giants' defense of late 1950s also included two or Hall of Famers, Andy Robustelli and Emlen Tunnell.

Svare played in 89 regular-season games with 79 starts, including 70 games with 61 starts for Giants. He had nine career interceptions and recovered five fumbles.

When Landry left Giants after 1959 season to become Dallas Cowboys’ first head coach, Svare took over as defensive coach and started every game. He retired as a player after 1960 season and remained as Giants’ defensive coach under Allie Sherman in 1961.

With Rams, Svare’s teams went 14-31-3 before he was fired following 1965 season. He returned to Giants as ir defensive coach in 1967 and 1968 before spending 1969 season working under Vince Lombardi with Washington Redskins.

In February 1971, Svare was hired as San Diego Chargers general manr. He added head coaching duties with four games remaining that year. Chargers were 1-6-1 in 1973 when Svare resigned as coach with an overall record of 7-17-2. He was fired as general manr after 1976 season.

Svare is survived by his daughter, Mia Anderson; two granddaughters; and a bror, kwn as G.O. His wife, Annette, was personal secretary to late Giants owner Wellington Mara, She died in 2008.