Leeman Bennett (born June 20, 1938) is a former American football coach who served at both the collegiate and professional levels, but is best remembered as head coach of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Early life A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Bennett graduated from the University of Kentucky, playing at both quarterback and defensive back under head coach Blanton Collier for three seasons beginning in 1958. During Collier's final season with the Wildcats in 1961, Bennett began his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach with the team. Coaching career College Bennett continued the following year under new head coach Charlie Bradshaw, then served in the military the next two years. In his first full year as a coach, Bennett was on the staff for Bradshaw's infamous first team that was known as the Thin Thirty. He resumed his career at Kentucky in 1965, then moved on to the University of Pittsburgh the following year. After only one season, Bennett accepted the running backs coaching position under Homer Rice at the University of Cincinnati in 1967, then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following season. On February 7, 1969, Bennett assumed similar duties at the U.S. Naval Academy under Rick Forzano, but left on March 13, 1970 to become running backs coach with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals. Bennett survived a coaching change after his first season, but left after the 1971 NFL season to become an assistant with the Detroit Lions. NFL After Chuck Knox was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in January 1973, he hired Bennett as the team's receivers coach. Over the next four years, the team's high-powered offense helped them reach three NFC Championship games, but never made a Super Bowl. Bennett became a head coach being hired by the Falcons on February 3, 1977. During his first season in Atlanta, Bennett's defense became known as the "Grits Blitz" for its ferocious style and allowing just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. The overall improvement of the team became evident the following season, when the Falcons defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card game, then put up a strong fight against the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. After the team endured a losing season in 1979, Bennett in 1980 led the team to its first division title and a then-team record