Larry Peccatiello, a 1957 graduate of William and Mary, was named All-American his senior year. As a senior captain, he was named All-Southern Conference, All-Big Six and Honorable Mention All-American. He also received the Tucker L Jones Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics as a senior. He was inducted into the William and Mary Hall of Fame in 1974 and into the Newark (NJ) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. After a two year stint in the Army, Peccatiello returned to Williamsburg in the late 1950’s where he began a coaching career that spanned across six decades in college and the NFL. After serving on the coaching staffs at William & Mary, the Naval Academy, and Rice University, Peccatiello moved to the professional ranks. Through the first part of his professional coaching career, he enjoyed much success with the Houston Oilers and the Seattle Seahawks. In 1981, Peccatiello joined the defensive coaching staff of the Washington Redskins where he remained through 1993 claiming three Super Bowls (1983, 1988, and 1992) under head coach Joe Gibbs. While with the Redskins, Peccatiello’s defensive squads finished in the top half of the League in points allowed ten times, in sacks ten times, in takeaways eight times and in opposing quarterback rating eight times. He coached for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994-1996 and finished his coaching career with the Detroit Lions before retiring in 2001. Peccatiello worked for three head coaches that are in the NFL Hall of Fame, Sid Gillman, Joe Gibbs and Marv Levy. He also served under Bobby Ross, who has also been inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2022, Peccatiello was named as one of the Washington Commanders franchise’s “90 Greatest”.
