Football Hall of Fame
Pete Hoener
A graduate of Richwoods High School and Bradley University, Pete Hoener became one of the National Football League’s most respected coaches of offensive linemen and tight ends.
After playing for Bradley’s last football team in 1970, Pete began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Missouri in 1975. Pete would spend 24 seasons as a college assistant coach at Illinois State, Indiana State, Illinois, Purdue, Texas Christian, Iowa State and Texas A&M.
He broke into the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals, coaching tight ends in 1985 and ’86. In 2001, Pete returned to the NFL for good, handling tight ends and offensive line for the Cardinals in Arizona. Over the rest of his 22 seasons in the NFL, he coached for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and The Washington Football Team. With Carolina, he helped Greg Olsen become the first tight end in NFL history with three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In 2015, he helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl L.
