NFL Offseason Coaching Update – Part 1
Just 11 days after the Super Bowl, various National Football League (NFL) teams are making coaching changes to give them a better chance at winning the Super Bowl next year. This also includes teams that played in the Super Bowl.
First, we head to the American Football Conference (AFC) North to see what the Pittsburgh Steelers are up to. Even though they lost the Super Bowl, they were obviously pretty happy to see how far they’d come even though they lost to the Green Bay Packers.
Reports surfaced that they will sign a one year contract extension with their defensive coordinator, d**k LeBeau. The 73 year old commonly referred to as “Coach Dad” told a local newspaper that “I’m not coaching anywhere but here.”
The Hall of Famer works on a year to year basis with teams because of his age but said that the team took the weekend to consider the verdict. LeBeau coached the Steelers to become the number two defense in the entire NFL and the best defense against the
run. This didn’t help them much against the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.
Speaking of the Packers, let’s head on over to the National Football Conference (NFC) North the changes the champions are making. Head coach Mike McCarthy ended his fifth season as coach with a Super Bowl ring. Now, he’ll be able to enjoy the financial wealth
that comes with it. The three year contract extension that is reportedly worth about $15 million will put McCarthy on the list of the ten highest paid NFL coaches.
Mark Murphy, president of the Packers team, already extended general manager Ted Thompson’s contract and has now done the same with McCarthy, both of whose contracts were to expire in 2012. Murphy was obviously happy about the fact that the Packs won the
Super Bowl and thinks that McCarthy and Thompson can lead the team to another one next year.
While we are in the NFC North, let’s take a look at the Chicago Bears. They did pretty well this year as well, making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game but lost to the Packers, their long-time rivals and neighbors. The Bears have extended the contract
of offensive line coach, Mike Tice, through the 2012 season, days after they refused to let the Tennessee Titans interview him for their offensive coordinator opening. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed but Tice seems please with his new
deal.
"Chicago has been a great fit for (wife) Diane and me," Tice told the Bears' official website. "I work with a bunch of great coaches and with players who are committed to putting in the work to be the best." In Tice’s first year with the Bears, he allowed
56 sacks on quarterback Jay Cutler, the highest in the NFL. Eventually the number of sacks dropped in the second half of the season.
To see what else went on related to coaching changes in the NFL, check out the next part of this article. But beware! Your favorite coach might be on the list!
Continued in Part 2...
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