Former LSU All-American and head football coach Jerry Stovall has died at the age of 85.
A West Monroe, Louisiana native, Stovall was one of the defining figures in LSU football history and remained tied to the program for decades. His impact stretched well beyond his playing days, but it was on the field where he first built his legend.
Known as “Mr. Everything,” Stovall did just about all of it for the Tigers from 1960-62.
He played halfback, defensive back, return specialist and punter, and by the end of his LSU career he had piled up a résumé few in school history could match. In 1962, he was a unanimous All-American and the SEC Player of the Year, and he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The NFL came calling quickly. Stovall was taken No. 2 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1963 NFL Draft and went on to spend nine seasons in the league, earning three Pro Bowl selections along the way.
After his playing career, he returned to Baton Rouge and took over as LSU’s head coach from 1980-83. His best season came in 1982, when he guided the Tigers to an 8-3-1 record and an Orange Bowl appearance. That year also brought him the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award.
Stovall’s place in the sport was later cemented with his 2010 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. LSU also retired his No. 21 jersey in 2018.
One of the most respected figures in LSU Athletics history, Stovall leaves behind a legacy that spans generations of Tiger football.
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