(Aug. 1, 1933 – Oct. 31, 2018) John Arlen Patera played and coached in the National Football League. He played for the Baltimore Colts, Chicago Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys. He was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, and the Minnesota Vikings. Patera was the first head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, and his career head coaching record is 35–59–0 (.372), all with the Seahawks.

Patera attended Washington High School in Portland, Oregon. Upon graduation in 1951, he enrolled at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he played college football for the Ducks from 1951–1954, earning All-Pacific Coast Conference honors as a guard in his senior year.

Other honors included his selection to play in the 1955 East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and the College All-Star Game.

In 2000, he was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame.