Jesse Freitas (February 7, 1921 – May 18, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Rockets and Buffalo Bills His son, Jesse Jr., was also a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL).[2]
After his playing career ended, Freitas became a coach. In 1950, he was hired as the head football coach at Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California.[3] Freitas was appointed head football coach at the College of San Mateo in 1955, succeeding Duane Whitehead.[4] He was also the head baseball coach at San Mateo before he was fired in March 1958.[5] Freitas returned to Junípero Serra as head football coach in 1960.[6] After two seasons, he left Serra in 1962 to become an assistant football coach at Sunnyvale High School in Sunnyvale, California.[7] He went back to Serra for a third stint as head football coach in 1965, continuing through the 1974 season.[8] He compiled an overall record of 107–46–3 in 17 seasons at Serra.[9]
Freitas died of cancer, at age 99, on May 18, 2020, in San Diego.[2]
Head coaching record
Junior college football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo Bulldogs (Big Eight Conference) (1955–1957) | |||||||||
| 1955 | San Mateo | 2–7 | 1–6 | 8th | |||||
| 1956 | San Mateo | 1–8 | 1–6 | T–6th | |||||
| 1957 | San Mateo | 2–7 | 1–6 | T–7th | |||||
| San Mateo: | 5–23 | 3–18 | |||||||
| Total: | 5–23 | ||||||||
References
- ^ a b c Freitas on PFR.com
- ^ a b Horgan, John (May 19, 2020). "Jesse Frietas, Ex-Serra football coach, dies at 99". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "Freitas Serra Grid Coach". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. May 26, 1950. p. 12. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com
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- ^ "Freitas Lands Bulldogs Grid Job". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. April 14, 1955. p. 19. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Coach Freitas Is Fired". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. March 27, 1958. p. 25. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Freitas Serra Coach". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. April 12, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Serra To Lose Grid Coach Jesse Freitas". Redwood City Tribune. Redwood City, California. May 23, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Jesse Freitas Is Serra Grid Coach". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. April 8, 1965. p. 21. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Community Owes Much To Mr. and Mrs. Freitwas". San Mateo Times. San Mateo, California. May 9, 1975. p. 26. Retrieved February 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .