David Edward DiFilippo (October 9, 1916 – August 29, 1983) was an American football guard and coach.
Early Life
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, DiFilippo attended West Catholic High School and played college football for Villanova University from 1937 to 1939. He was part of the undefeated 1937 and 1938 Villanova teams, which were ranked No. 6 and No. 18, respectively, in the final AP polls.
Professional Playing Career
He played professional football in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1941 season, appearing in five games (two as a starter). During World War II, he enlisted in the Army, attained the rank of captain, and played on the Army Eastern All-Stars, a team of football stars serving in the military. After the war, he briefly played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
Coaching Career
- 1947–1951: Coached the Tacony semipro football team.
- 1951–1953: Coached football at St. Thomas More High School.
- 1954–1959: Returned to Villanova as a line coach. (Notably, he once spied on an opponent's practice wearing a blond wig, sunglasses, and a raincoat to develop a winning strategy.)
- Later: Worked as a scout for the Philadelphia Eagles, an assistant coach at Temple, and coached the Philadelphia Bulldogs of the Continental Football League.
- Pottstown Firebirds (ACFL): Served as general manager and head coach, leading the team to two Atlantic Coast Football League championships in three years. He was named ACFL Coach of the Year in 1970.
Later Life & Legacy
After football, he worked in the insurance business, operated a beer distributorship, and ran a restaurant called "Coach's Corner" in Ocean City, New Jersey. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Villanova Hall of Fame. He passed away in 1983 at age 66 in Somers Point, New Jersey.
