Washington Chiefs Hire Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator

Washington, D.C. -- The Washington Chiefs of the Minor Football League announced today that they have hired U.S. Navy veteran and cancer survivor John R. Mackler as the team’s new Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator.

Mackler was born and raised in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area of Washington, D.C. and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High school. After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Navy.

He began a pro football career in 1968 when he participated in an open try-out for the Washington Redskins. Although he did not make the team, he received high scores for his quarterback skills and advised to try out for a semi-pro team in Atlanta, the Marietta Generals/Georgia Chargers of the Atlantic Football League. He was the team’s starting quarterback for three years as he attended the University of Georgia for his junior and senior years. He led the Chargers to their first division title game in 1970. As a result of his play, the Redskins invited him to attend their training camp. He played three pre-season games for the Redskins in 1970 before he was cut. He returned to the Georgia Chargers and led them to the Atlantic Football League championship.

His coaching career started as an assistant coach for quarterbacks and wide receivers at Washington State and Southern California high schools. After four years at the high school level, Mackler joined the Sarasota Millionaires of the Southern States Football League (SSFL), a professional minor football league, where he served as the quarterback and wide receiver coach for three years and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator and quarterback coach starting in his fourth year. He was instrumental in the team winning the SSFL division championship in 2007. In 2008 the Millionaires played in the SSFL championship game (the Rice Bowl) and the organization won the League’s Commissioner’s Cup Award. In 2009 the Millionaires again played in the SSFL championship game (the Rice Bowl) and won the National Bowl Championship (Orange Blossom Bowl). He was named to the SSFL’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mackler said that as offensive coordinator of the Millionaires he relied on a West Coast Spread offense. It proved to be a successful offensive system. During his career with the team their record was 28-7.