LSU football legend Jerry Stovall, an All-American who later returned to lead the Tigers as head coach, died Monday at the age of 85, the university announced.
LSU confirmed that Stovall died in Baton Rouge. The university did not disclose a cause of death.
The LSU Football Alumni Association honored Stovall following news of his death, remembering the former player and coach whose relationship with the program spanned decades.
Stovall, a West Monroe, Louisiana, native, became one of the most versatile players in LSU history during his three seasons with the Tigers from 1960 through 1962.
Nicknamed “Mr. Everything,” Stovall contributed on offense, defense and special teams.
He finished his LSU playing career with 1,081 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 452 receiving yards and another touchdown through the air.
Stovall also accumulated nearly 700 return yards on special teams and intercepted seven passes on defense, numbers that illustrated the versatility behind his famous nickname.
His final season in Baton Rouge proved to be his most decorated.
Stovall earned All-America honors and was named Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1962.
He also came within one spot of winning college football’s most prestigious individual honor, finishing second in the 1962 Heisman Trophy voting behind Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker.
Stovall’s success at LSU made him one of the most highly regarded prospects entering professional football.
The St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the second overall pick in the 1963 NFL Draft, beginning a nine-season professional career.
Stovall primarily played safety and also handled punting duties during his time in the NFL.
He appeared in 97 games and made 90 starts while establishing himself as one of the league’s top defensive backs.
Stovall was selected to three Pro Bowls, earning the honor following the 1966, 1967 and 1969 seasons. His performance in 1966 also earned him Second Team All-Pro recognition.
He ultimately finished his professional career with 18 interceptions, including a career-high four during the 1967 season.
After leaving the NFL, Stovall returned to the school where his football career had first gained national attention.
He joined LSU’s coaching staff as an assistant under longtime head coach Charles McClendon before eventually receiving an unexpected opportunity to take control of the program, per Trending Politics.
LSU initially hired Bo Rein to replace McClendon, but Rein died in a plane crash in January 1980 before ever coaching a game for the Tigers.
Stovall was subsequently elevated to head coach.
Former LSU athletic director Paul Dietzel described Stovall at the time as “young, tough, aggressive, articulate” and praised his recruiting ability and integrity.
“Under the circumstances, he was my only choice,” Dietzel said, according to LSU’s athletics website. “Jerry Stovall is LSU through-and-through.”
Stovall spent four seasons leading the Tigers and compiled a 22-21-2 record.
His most successful campaign came in 1982, when LSU finished 8-3-1 and secured a berth in the Orange Bowl.
The Tigers’ performance that season also earned Stovall recognition as the Walter Camp Foundation’s national coach of the year.
Despite the success of the 1982 campaign, LSU struggled the following season, and Stovall’s tenure as head coach ended after the 1983 season.
His connection to the program nevertheless remained historically significant.
Stovall was only the third former LSU football player to later become the program’s head coach and remains the most recent former Tiger to hold the position.
His contributions were eventually recognized with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Across his career, Stovall occupied virtually every major role in football: All-American college star, NFL standout, assistant coach and head coach.
From earning the nickname “Mr. Everything” during his playing days to eventually taking charge of LSU from the sideline, Stovall remained closely associated with the Tigers for much of his life.
He leaves behind a football legacy stretching more than six decades and a place among the most accomplished players in LSU history.
