After retiring as a player, Szymanski remained with the Colts as a scout, personnel director, coach, and general manager from 1969-1982.

His father worked for the Toledo Parks & Recreation Department and his mother ran a Polish bakery.

Szymanski attended Libbey High School in Toledo, where he was an All-City selection in basketball and baseball and earned All-America honors in football.

[1] Following his high school football career, Szymanski was offered scholarships to play for Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame.

[1] Szymanski played college football at the University of Notre Dame under head coaches Frank Leahy and Terry Brennan, where he was a four-year letterman at linebacker from 1951-1954.

As a senior, despite suffering an injury that required surgery, Szymanski was the starting center for the College All-Star team that upset the Cleveland Browns, 30-27.

In Szymanski's final season as a player, the Colts returned to the NFL Championship game in a rematch against the Browns, where they won 34-0.

Szymanski was referred to by Colts teammates as "Syzzie," and was known for his toughness in an era of football where injuries could cost a player his job.

Colts teammate Art Donovan recalled the injury against the Chicago Bears in 1958 that caused Szymanski to miss the remainder of the season.

[5]Following his retirement as a player, Szymanski continued with Baltimore as a scout, personnel director, and general manager.

During the 1974 preseason, the Colts fired offensive line coach George Young and replaced him with Szymanski for the first several games of the season.

In his five seasons as general manager, the Colts saw a decline in their success under head coaches Ted Marchibroda and Mike McCormack.

From 1977 to 1981, the Colts amassed a 29-49 record and made one playoff appearance in the 1977 season, losing in the Divisional Round to the Oakland Raiders.