UNHWildCats
February 10th, 2009, 12:47 PM
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) - Mel Kaufman, a linebacker who played in three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) and was a former scout for the NFL team, has died. He was 50.
Kaufman died in his Santa Margarita home Saturday night, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced Monday. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
He played on Washington's victorious Super Bowl teams in 1983 and 1988, and in the 1984 title game, when the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) lost to the Los Angeles Raiders (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/oakland-raiders). He scouted for the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) in the 1992 Super Bowl, when they beat the Buffalo Bills (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/buffalo-bills).
A defensive team leader and team captain with the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) from 1981-88, Kaufman was a starting linebacker on NFC championship games in 1982, '83 and '87. He started 78 of 91 games after making the team as a rookie free agent in 1981.
Kaufman was limited to six starts in 1988, his last season, after a shoulder and neck injury. After retiring, he was a scouting supervisor for the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) through 1998.
Kaufman had been working as linebackers coach at Cal Poly since last spring, and he helped guide the Mustangs to an 8-3 record, a Great West Conference title and their second NCAA FCS playoff berth.
He played on the school's Division II national championship team in 1980 and was a member of its athletic hall of fame.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9203684/Ex-Redskins-captain-Kaufman-dies-at-50
Kaufman died in his Santa Margarita home Saturday night, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced Monday. An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
He played on Washington's victorious Super Bowl teams in 1983 and 1988, and in the 1984 title game, when the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) lost to the Los Angeles Raiders (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/oakland-raiders). He scouted for the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) in the 1992 Super Bowl, when they beat the Buffalo Bills (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/buffalo-bills).
A defensive team leader and team captain with the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) from 1981-88, Kaufman was a starting linebacker on NFC championship games in 1982, '83 and '87. He started 78 of 91 games after making the team as a rookie free agent in 1981.
Kaufman was limited to six starts in 1988, his last season, after a shoulder and neck injury. After retiring, he was a scouting supervisor for the Redskins (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/washington-redskins) through 1998.
Kaufman had been working as linebackers coach at Cal Poly since last spring, and he helped guide the Mustangs to an 8-3 record, a Great West Conference title and their second NCAA FCS playoff berth.
He played on the school's Division II national championship team in 1980 and was a member of its athletic hall of fame.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9203684/Ex-Redskins-captain-Kaufman-dies-at-50