21 Facts About Les Bingaman

Lester Alonza "Bingo" Bingaman was an American football player and coach.

Les Bingaman played college football at the University of Illinois from 1944 to 1947 and professional football in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions from 1948 to 1954.

Les Bingaman earned trips to the Pro Bowl after the 1951 and 1953 seasons.

Les Bingaman was selected as a first-team All Pro player four consecutive years from 1951 to 1954.

At times weighing as much as 350 pounds, Bingaman was the heaviest player in the NFL during his playing career.

Les Bingaman later worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions from 1960 to 1964 and for the Miami Dolphins from 1966 to 1969.

Les Bingaman was born in 1926 in McKenzie, Tennessee, moved to Indiana, and attended Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana.

Les Bingaman enrolled at the University of Illinois and played college football at the tackle position for the Fighting Illini football team from 1944 to 1947.

Les Bingaman was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 1948 NFL draft, signed with the Lions in June 1948, and played for the team, principally at the middle guard position on defense, for seven years from 1948 to 1954.

Les Bingaman appeared in 78 NFL games and was selected as a second-team All Pro in 1950 and a first-team All Pro in 1951,1952,1953, and 1954.

Les Bingaman was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl after the 1951 and 1953 seasons.

Les Bingaman was a member of the Lions' NFL championship teams in 1952 and 1953.

Les Bingaman replaced Buster Ramsey as the Lions' defensive line coach under head coach George Wilson.

Les Bingaman served for five years as the Lions' defensive line coach, leading a group that became known as the Fearsome Foursome and was acknowledged as one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

In February 1966, after spending 1965 working as an NFL scout, Les Bingaman was hired as an assistant coach by the Miami Dolphins.

Les Bingaman rejoined his former boss, George Wilson, who took over as the Dolphins' head coach one week earlier.

In January 1967, Les Bingaman rejected an offer from Joe Schmidt to return to the Lions, opting remain with George Wilson in Miami.

Les Bingaman had no pulse or heartbeat for three minutes and had to be revived with a shot of adrenaline injected into his heart.

Les Bingaman suffered from weight issues after retiring as a player.

Les Bingaman suffered congestive heart failure in early 1968 and began dieting anew.

Les Bingaman then collapsed on the sideline of a Dolphins' game in December 1969.