About Don Beebe
NFL Career
Don Beebe’s story of reaching and excelling in the NFL is considered one of the great inspirational stories in all of professional sports. Beebe was completely out of sports for 3 years, hanging aluminum siding on houses, when he was asked to play at tiny NAIA Chadron State College in western Nebraska. From that opportunity, Beebe was asked to the NFL combine trials as “the kid from nowhere with the blazing speed.” Beebe not only showed up, he went on to set speed and agility records in the NFL that still stand today. Beebe was one of the fastest players in league history, blazing to a career best 4.21 forty-yard-dash at the pinnacle of his career.
A nine-year veteran wide receiver, Beebe was the first person to play for six Super Bowl teams. Beebe was instrumental in helping the Green Bay Packers achieve the 1996-97 NFL World Championship. Brett Favre was quoted as saying, “We would have never won Super Bowl XXXI without Don Beebe.” Even so, Beebe is most remembered for his legendary “snatching a tinge of victory” from Buffalo’s defeat in Super Bowl XXVII, when he caught Leon Lett at the goal line and forced a fumble after a length-of-the-field race. It was this, “never ever give up” NFL play that awarded Beebe ESPN’s first ever ESPY Award for “NFL Play of the Year” in 1993. It was also voted as one of the top 10 most remembered NFL plays of all time.
Post NFL Career
Upon retiring from the NFL, Beebe created “House of Speed”, a sports business that works with both professional and young athletes to help maximize their speed and athletic talents. (60,000 youth have gone to House of Speed). Though he was being recruited to coach at the collegiate and pro levels, it was Beebe’s desire to work with youth that helped him accept the varsity football coaching position for Aurora Christian School. In just his 4th year, Beebe took this tiny private school to the Illinois State Championship Game, one of the smallest schools to ever reach such a feat in that division. It was just another example of Beebe’s “Move That Mountain” attitude that motivated his young players to excel far beyond their own expectations. Beebe was honored as an “Unsung Hero” at the 24th NFL Players Association Awards Banquet, where players are recognized for dedication and love of football, fans and community.
Because of Beebe’s amazing life story, he is a highly sought-after motivational speaker and personality. Beebe falls back on his knowledge, character, and life experiences to motivate and inspire audiences nationwide. During Beebe’s NFL career, he caught 217 passes for 3,388 yards and 23 touchdowns.
College Coaching Career
Don Beebe became the Head Football Coach at Aurora University in November of 2018.
In four seasons, Beebe has led AU to a 31-7 overall record and 26-0 with four Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference titles. In the three seasons of the NCAA playoffs in his time, Beebe's Spartans have taken on Saint John's University, Wheaton College and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round. The 2022 Spartans defeated whitewater 33-28 for the first NCAA playoff win in program history then continued the journey into the NCAA quarterfinals for a first time ever after defeating Alma College 48-26.
In his first season, Beebe led the Spartans to a record setting campaign as named D3football.com North Region Coach of the Year, becoming the first AU Head Coach to earn D3football.com North Region Coach of the Year recognition since the awards inception in 2005. Additionally, six Spartans were recognized as All-Region players by D3football.com.
Beebe, who led the Spartans to a 9-2 record in his first season as the program’s head coach led AU to the 2019 NCAA Division III playoffs. The Spartans pushed St. John’s to the brink in the first round of the NCAA postseason. Champions of the 2019 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, Beebe was named the NACC Coach of the Year as he led a prolific offense led by Gagliardi Trophy finalist, quarterback Gavin Zimbelman.
In year three, AU went 8-3, a perfect 8-0 in the NACC, winning the conference championship while he was named NACC Coach of the Year. Quarterback Gavin Zimbelman was a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy and NACC Offensive Player of the Year with Sean Reyna being named NACC Defensive Player of the Year and Jaylen Jordan being named NACC Freshman of the Year.