What would you do if your dreams were crushed even before you started? Would you sulk, or would you move on to even better things? While you gather your thoughts, we are going to tell you about Dave Wannstedt, a man who faced those same difficulties.
Dave not only rose through his injury that forbade him from playing for the rest of his life, but he also made a name for himself as a coach in the NFL and the collegiate level.
Therefore, we had written this article to inspire our dear readers by telling you about Wannstedt’s enthralling journey, which nearly ended even before it began.
We will also inform you about his net worth, salary, age, height, wife, kids, and social media.
So without wasting another second, let’s begin with some quick facts.
Quick Facts:
| Full Name | Dave Wannstedt |
| Birth Date | 21 May 1952 |
| Birth Place | Baldwin, Pennsylvania, U.S.A |
| Nick Name | Not available |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Father’s Name | Frank Wannstedt |
| Mother’s Name | Virginia Wannstedt |
| Siblings | Dan Wannstedt (Brother), Cheryl Wannstedt, Peggy Wannstedt, Diane Wannstedt, Joane Wannstedt |
| Age | 70 Years Old |
| Height | 6’3″ (1.93 m) |
| Weight | Not available |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | White |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Muscular |
| Married | Yes |
| Girlfriends | No |
| Spouse | Janet Wannstedt |
| Role | Defensive coordinator, Head Coach |
| Profession | National Football League (NFL) |
| Net Worth | $18 million |
| Franchises | Pittsburg Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, University of Pittsburgh |
| Jersey Number | Not available |
| Social Media | |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Where is Dave Wannstedt from? Early Life and Education
Dave was born to his late parents, Frank Wannstedt and Virginia Wannstedt, in Baldwin, Pennsylvania, in 1952. Wannstedt grew up with his brother, Dan Wannstedt, and sisters, Cheryl Wannstedt, Peggy Wannstedt, Diane Wannstedt, and Joanne Wannstedt.
As a result, the rivalry was always high amongst the siblings growing up, which helped him play his profession. The future Super Bowl winner always dreamed of being a professional footballer even before he could remember.
As a result, Wannstedt used to spend all of his time exercising and honing his skill in the hope of playing in the NFL someday. By the time young Dave joined Baldwin High School, he was already one of the stars as an offensive tackler.
And by the time he ended his undergraduate days with the University of Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania native was seen as one of the top prospects coming out of college.
As a result, Dave chose to make himself eligible for the 1974 NFL Draft.
How old is Dave Wannstedt? Age, Height & Body Measurements
Having been born in the year 1952 makes Dave age 67 years at the moment. Although people may feel that 67 is a bit elderly, Wannastedt will not agree with you because he stills works as a commentator for FOX Sports.
Furthermore, the Pennsylvania native stands at 6 feet 3 inches (1.93 meters) tall, which would have been a big benefit throughout his playing career. But regrettably, due to injuries, Dave could never use his enormous stature to build a name for himself as a player.
Dave Wannstedt | Career
Dave’s professional career started with the Green Bay Packers when he got taken in the 15th round of the 1974 NFL Draft.
Consequently, things appeared good for the then 22-year-old, but the scenario went crazy in no time. To explain, Wannstedt hurt his neck in the preseason camp and regrettably never played again.
On the contrary, the Pennsylvania native landed himself a job in the coaching profession, a decision that would define his legacy and career.
After that, he spent the next four years with the Pitt Panthers, where he earned the NCAA Division-I national football championship.
However, his big breakthrough in the coaching line occurred during the 1989 season when the legendary Dallas Cowboys recruited Dave as their defensive coordinator.
Under his supervision, the Cowboys defense was rated one of the greatest at the time. In fact, the Dallas-based organization even won the Super Bowl XVIII with Wannstedt as its defensive coordinator.
By the year 1993, the Pennsylvania native had already developed a reputation for himself as one of the top coaches.
Therefore, on 19 January 1993, the Chicago Bears opted to employ Dave as their head coach to replace the famous Mike Ditka.
As soon as Wannstedt assumed the position, he was under great pressure to recreate Ditka’s work prior.
Added to that, this was his first position as a head coach in the NFL, which made matters much worse. Consequently, Dave’s six years with the Bears turned out to be a nightmare as the organization could make the postseason just once.
Thus, in 1999, the Chicago Bears fired the 67-year-old due to his poor performances over the period of six years.
But soon after losing his position, Wannstedt got a new one with the Miami Dolphins. He assumed the post of defensive coordinator along with being the assistant head coach.
But in a stroke of serendipity, Dolphins head coach, Jimmy Johnson, suddenly chose to resign, which meant that Dave had to step up to fill the head coach’s post. Subsequently, his next five years with the franchise were full with highs and lows.
To explain, the 67-year-old started his reign incredibly well as he guided the Dolphins to two consecutive postseason appearances in his first two years.
But, his next three years with the Miami-based organization turned into disappointment as Wannstedt’s faults piled up one after the other.
As a result, Dolphins fans grew bored of the Pennsylvania native, which finally led to his departure in 2004.
Thereafter, not even two months had gone since his departure when Dave obtained the opportunity to manage his alma institution, the University of Pittsburg.
Upon returning, Wannstedt remarked that coaching his old squad was one of the happiest moments of his career and that he pledged to win championships for the team.
#girldad #beardown #circa1993 ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/VW0acajykK
— Coach Wannstedt (@CoachWannstedt) January 29, 2020
Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania native could not win any prize for the university throughout his six-year-long tenure.
In fact, the pressure was so enormous that Wannstedt chose to quit from the job since he could not deliver on his commitments.
Nonetheless, the university acknowledged his efforts by providing him a position as a special assistant to the sports director. But Dave declined the offer as he wanted some time off from footballing activity.
Having sitting out for almost a year, the 67-year-old felt that it was time for him to get back into football.
And that is what he did as he took the associate head coach’s post with the Buffalo Bills. But regrettably, Wannstedt was terminated along with the whole Bills coaching staff owing to their mediocre performances just one year after assuming the position.
Subsequently, the Pennsylvania native joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their special teams’ coach, but regrettably like many times before; Dave was let go at the end of the 2013 season.
The 2013 season also marked an end to Wannstedt’s 20-year-long professional coaching career since he has not taken any position in football since.
Where is Dave Wannstedt now | Fox NFL Kickoff
On the contrary, the 67-year-old has made some appearances as a football expert for FOX Sports. For instance, Dave often appears on FOX NFL Kickoff, which airs every Sunday morning during the NFL season.
Champs Sunday tune in Fox Nfl Kickoff 1ET @Spoon33 @PSchrags @MichaelVick @CharissaT @ColinCowherd @TonyGonzalez88 pic.twitter.com/CEbf6ZmDDA
— Coach Wannstedt (@CoachWannstedt) January 24, 2021
Furthermore, Wannstedt just made an appearance in an episode of Chicago Fire, which is an American action drama sitcom.
Dave Wannstedt | Net Worth & Salary
As of 2022, Dave has accrued a net worth of $18 million, mostly through his coaching activities in the NFL.
Having spent 20 years as a professional coach in the NFL and NCAA, Wannastedt’s net worth should come as no surprise.
During his stint in the coaching department, the 67-year-old frequently used to make more than $1 million every year.
Interestingly, NFL coaches now days make an average salary of $3 million per year. Thus, we feel that Dave resigned from the game a bit too early.
Nevertheless, having a net worth of $18 million should be adequate for the Pennsylvania native as he is 67 years old at the time.
However, Dave still appears from time to time for Fox Sports as an NFL expert, which pockets him thousands of dollars.
Dave Wannstedt | Daughters & Wife
Dave is involved in a 47 year-long marriage with his soulmate, Janet Wannstedt. The pair got married back in 1973 in the presence of more than 200 family and friends.
Likewise, the two had been in a long relationship before their marriage. In reality, the two met during their undergraduate days and have been together ever since.
Doesn’t get any better than family at Lake Max, Culver, IN!! @JimIrsay pic.twitter.com/FBSLKYvOxl
— Coach Wannstedt (@CoachWannstedt) August 5, 2020
Also, the two lovebirds have been blessed with two daughters, Keri Wannstedt and Jamie Wannstedt.
Both the girls are married, but regrettably, there is little information regarding their life. However, what we do know is that Carrie is 43 years old and Jamie is 40.
In conclusion, the Wannstedt group is one big happy family as they hang out together frequently. We hope that the family continues to have the excellent bond that they now do.
Social Media Presence:
Twitter account: 3.8k followers
Some FAQs:
Where does Dave Wannstedt coach?
Dave Wannstedt has been the head coach of the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. Likewise, he has also done assistant coaching for the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Interestingly, he was also the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, where his team won the 2010 Big East Championship.
How long was Dave Wannstedt, Chicago bears coach?
Dave Wannstedt served as a head coach of the Chicago bears for six years. He was hired as the head coach of bears on January 19, 1993, and was later fired on December 28, 1998.
Why did Dave Wannstedt leave Pittsburg?
Dave Wannstedt resigned as head coach of Pittsburg, on December 7, 2010, because of a disappointing 7–5 regular season and having failed to advance to a Bowl Championship Series during his tenure.
After leaving Pittsburg, Dave returned to the NFL and served as an assistant on staff for the Buffalo Bills (2011-12) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2013).
Who should replace Dave Wannstedt for the Chicago Bears?
Dick Jauron was hired as the head coach of Chicago Bears on January 23, 1999, to replace Dave Wannstedt.
When did Dave Wannstedt coach at Dallas Cowboys?
Dave Wannstedt served as head coach of Dallas Cowboys from (1989–1992).
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