Information taken from www.jewishsports.org (March 27, 2011)
Former NFL scout with the New York Jets and New England Patriots
A native of Philadelphia, born August 9, 1935, Steinberg played football and majored in physical education and health at Temple University. Steinberg was a high school coach at Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic High School and at Staunton Military Academy. He then entered the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant at Vanderbilt (1964-1966) and Kansas State (1967-69). In 1969 he had a brief stint as a scout with the Dallas Cowboys.
Steinberg spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Mississippi before joining the Patriots as a personnel scout under the director of player personnel Buck Kilroy. Steinberg served with the Patriots from 1972-76 before departing for the Rams. With the Rams and Patriots, Steinberg built teams that reached the Super Bowl. During nine seasons as director of player personnel with New England, which went to the 1986 Super Bowl, he acquired Pro Bowl players like Andre Tippet, Brian Holloway, Tony Collins, Irving Fryar and Fred Marion.
The Jets named Steinberg as vice president and general manager of the club on December 18, 1989. At that time, the former New England Patriots director of player development had full control of the Jets’ football operations. Although the Jets fared poorly during his term as general manager, Steinberg was praised around the National Football League. Steinberg came to New York not only highly regarded by the Jets, but also well respected by others in the NFL. Steinberg, who has selected the talent for two Super Bowl teams- the Patriots of Super Bowl XX in 1986 and the Rams of Super Bowl XIV in 1980 is considered one of the most knowledgeable minds in the NFL and a top talent hunter.
“I just think he’s one of the better people we have in this business,” said Giants general manager George Young. “Dick is a hard worker with a terrific eye for talent. I think he has a good feel about the whole picture coaching and the strengths and weaknesses of a team. He’s not a guy who thinks he’s some hot number. He’s kind of laid back and easy to get along with,” said Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard.
Steinberg died in September of 1995 from stomach cancer at the age of 60.
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