Nebraska Cornhuskers Mourn Loss of Legendary Coach George Darlington

The Nebraska Cornhuskers football program is mourning the loss of legendary assistant coach George Darlington, who passed away in Lincoln at the age of 87. Darlington served as an assistant coach for the Huskers from 1973 to 2002, making him the longest-tenured assistant in the history of Nebraska football. During his remarkable 30-year career, the Cornhuskers achieved a record of 304 wins, 65 losses, and 3 ties, leading the nation in both wins and winning percentage. Under Darlington's guidance, Nebraska secured three national championships and 14 conference titles, consistently finishing in the top 10 nationally for 21 seasons. Darlington was a vital part of the coaching staff for every one of Nebraska's bowl games during his tenure. Born in West Virginia, he played college football at Rutgers and began his coaching career at Johnson Regional High School in New Jersey. He was hired by head coach Tom Osborne as the defensive ends coach in 1973, marking the start of a significant era for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. After coaching defensive ends for 13 years, he transitioned to defensive backs in 1986 and remained a key figure throughout Osborne's 25 seasons as head coach. Following his time at Nebraska, Darlington continued his coaching career at several institutions before retiring in 2010. He also contributed to the community by teaching a Football 101 class and writing a textbook on the fundamentals of the game. His presence at Husker practices and games will be deeply missed.