Today's Tidbit... Weight Training and the 1963 San Diego Chargers

Innovators innovate. They try new stuff and get a lot wrong, but they keep pushing the envelope. Some of their innovations prove helpful and become the norm, leading us to wonder how we survived without them.

People can argue whether Don Coryell or Sid Gillman fathered the modern, forward passing game, but Gillman is among the most influential figures in the style of football played today. Less appreciated is Gillman's contribution to weight training in football.

Sid Gillman was the third-year head coach of the San Diego Chargers when he hired professional football's first strength coach. Strength training is so ingrained in football today that we struggle to think of the game without S&C programs. Still, football existed for nearly a century before weightlifting received significant attention.

Conditioning, but not strength training, has been a core part of football since its start. Evert top college had multi-sport trainers who helped the crew, track, and football teams condition themselves.