Leeman Bennett Leeman Bennett ( born June 20 , 1938 ) is a former football coach who served at both the collegiate and professional levels , but is most prominently remembered as head coach of the National Football League ' s Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers . 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 . 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 year in the Steel City , Bennett accepted the offensive backs coaching position under Homer Rice at the University of Cincinnati in 1967 , then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following year . 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 offensive 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 . 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 the team reach three NFC Championship game s , but fell short of a Super Bowl berth . Despite coming up short , Bennett became a head coach for the first time when he was hired by the Falcons on February 3 , 1977 . During his first season in Georgia , 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 year , 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 led the team to its first NFC West title and a then - team record 12 wins . However , a fourth quarter collapse against the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs abruptly ended the season . While another losing record followed in 1981 , the team won its final three games , giving hopes of another comeback . However , the strike - shortened 1982 NFL season saw Bennett ' s team finish 5 - 4 , reaching the postseason in the expanded playoff system , but losing the first round game to the Minnesota Vikings . A late season slump , coupled with the playoff losses and overall inconsistency , resulted in Bennett being dismissed on January 14 , 1983 . He was the first coach in team history to leave the team with a winning record , going 47 - 44 ( including a 1 - 3 record in the playoffs ) . Jim Mora also left the team with a winning record , 26 - 22 . For the next two years , Bennett sold recreational vehicles before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired him on January 23 , 1985 , to replace the retiring John McKay . However , Bennett ' s previous success did not come with him to Tampa , with consecutive 2 - 14 finishes in both of his years as coach of the Bucs . On December 29 , 1986 , he was dismissed by team owner Hugh Culverhouse . Bennett then returned to Atlanta , where he purchased a car dealership and was named chairman of the selection committee for the Peach Bowl . In 1991 , Bennett sold the dealership and was hired as director of development for the Greater Atlanta Christian School , where his two sons had attended . Eight years later , he co - founded the First National Bank of John ' s Creek in Alpharetta , Georgia , and later served as its director . Bennett also contributed to Falcons radio shows . While still handling his bowl game duties , Bennett is mostly retired , spending much of his free time golfing and hunting . He also spends his time with his family , Grandkids , sons , wife etc . etc .