Tag: Hines Ward

Steelers legend Hines Ward talks Super Bowls and his relationship with Bill Cowher

Hines Ward shares a great story from Super Bowl 40.

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Hines Ward was part of two of the Steelers six Super Bowl titles. He was even a Super Bowl MVP. But when we asked him about a memorable moment from one of his Super Bowls, he offered up a story about a catch from Super Bowl 40 that most don’t even remember but it really illustrated his love for the game and how he felt about his place on the Steelers until that moment.

“You know, there was one playing the Super Bowl 40 I think I made it like a shoestring catch and I remember hearing coach cower from afar saying it’s like amazing catch, like awesome for coach Cowher who, you know, at times drafted all these guys,” Ward said. “I thought he was trying to get rid of me.”

Cowher drafted Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft out of Georgia. But he then followed it up with back-to-back first-round picks spent on wide receiver Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burris. This would be tough on any player but the fact that Edwards and Burress turned out to be a bust ad Ward became the best receiver in franchise history has to be some sweet retribution.

“I really didn’t know where we stood from coach to player, to hear that compliment, that he gave me during the Super Bowl it’s kind of like I won him over, I was, I was officially one of his players that, that he really adored and appreciated,” Ward continued. “So that was a big moment for me personally because up to that point man, I was trying my best to show him that, you know, I want to be a Steeler for life, I am, what’s still the football is all about”

Ward absolutely epitomized what he meant and still means to be a Steeler. It was great to hear one of the real tough guys in the league talk about how important it was for him to be accepted by Cowher and prove himself.

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Hines Ward says NFL wide receivers have it much easier now

Hines Ward says life was much harder on NFL wide receivers when he played.

When Hines Ward played wide receiver in the NFL, times were different. Life was much harder on receivers during his era — 1998 to 2011 — as opposed to now, at least according to him.

“I mean, I think the rules are easier now because it’s set up for the offensive guys to get catches,” Ward said. “You know, when I came up during my time, I remember small receivers, they were unheard of, you know, going across the middle. I took a lot of my lumps going across the middle getting hit.”

During his time in the NFL, no receiver played with an edge as Ward did. Not only was he fearless when it came to getting hit going across the middle, Ward never shied away from delivering a blow on a defender as well. This is something Ward noticed about a fellow Georgia product, Steelers WR George Pickens. For all of his amazing catches this season, Ward loved what saw out of Pickens as a blocker as well and credited that to the fact he played at Georgia.

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Ranking the XFL coaching staffs based on how much I’d like to play for them

Would you rather play for Wade Phillips or Rod Woodson?

The XFL is coming back in 2023. It doesn’t have teams yet. It doesn’t even have team *names* yet — though we’re all rooting for a Memphis Maniax revival. But it does have coaches.

Well, most of the teams have coaches.

The league announced its head coaches back in April, dropping a list of names like Wade Phillips, Bob Stoops, and Hines Ward onto a football-starved nation. Those leaders had their coaching trees expanded Wednesday when coordinators and personnel directors were unveiled. There’s a fair amount of recognizable talent coming to Dwayne Johnson’s pet project, ranging from longtime college staples (June Jones) to NFL veterans trying to accelerate their move up the coaching ranks (Bruce Gradkowski).

So who did the best? Well, without any rosters it’s pretty difficult to say. What we can figure out is which teams might be the most appealing to the players who’ll be drafted this October. Who would I most like to play for? Using my scientific method of “these guys seem cool,” here are my very official, very well-researched rankings.

Former Georgia WR named XFL head coach

Former Georgia Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward has been named one of the XFL’s eight head coaches for the 2023 season

Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Hines Ward has been named one of the XFL’s eight head coaches for the 2023 season. Ward joins Wade Phillips, Bob Stoops, Rod Woodson, Reggie Barlow, Terrell Buckley, Anthony Becht and Jim Haslett as XFL head coaches.

Hines Ward is currently the wide receivers coach for Florida Atlantic. It is unclear how his coaching job in the XFL will impact his career with Florida Atlantic.

Georgia Bulldogs former player Hines Ward in attendance prior to the 2018 CFP national championship game. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Ward previously served as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets in 2019-2020.

Hines Ward played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998-2011 and won two Super Bowls. He played at Georgia from 1994-1997 before becoming a third round pick in the 1998 NFL draft.

It will be interesting to see how the XFL does in the spring of 2023. Can another major professional football league emerge in America? The XFL previously shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Here’s what XFL Co-Owner Dwyane Johnson had to say about the league adding eight head coaches:

This is yet another huge moment for the XFL. I have experienced first-hand the positive influence and impact that coaches can have on a player’s life, and with our group of smart, accomplished and motivating head coaches, I expect nothing less. Not only will these coaches be mentors to our players, but they will be a big part of the cities in which we will operate. Stay tuned.

The XFL will have more announcements in the upcoming months regarding teams, players, and more.

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XFL names 8 head coaches for third run

The XFL announced its head coaches for the 2023 season and there are some big names

The XFL announced its eight head coaches on Wednesday as league leaders Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson ramp up for the third incarnation of the league, which will kick off in 2023.

The XFL III will have some big names as coaches: Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, Wade Phillips, Bob Stoops, and Terrell Buckley are among the eight.

The other four are Reggie Barlow, Hines Ward, Jim Haslett and Anthony Becht.

Vince McMahon twice attempted to start and succeed with the XFL. The firsr run was scuttled after a year and the second was ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then completely disbanded.

Former Titans coach Jim Haslett named 1 of 8 XFL head coaches

Haslett is one of eight head coaches set to lead teams when the league relaunches again in 2023.

Just months after he and the Tennessee Titans parted ways in January, it has been revealed that Jim Haslett will be the head coach of one of the XFL’s franchises.

The announcement was made on ESPN, with more information available on the league’s official website.

Haslett will be one of eight head coaches in the relaunched league, a list that also includes Wade Phillips, Bob Stoops, Terrell Buckley, Hines Ward, Rod Woodson, Reggie Barlow, and Anthony Becht.

Haslet spent the past two seasons as Tennessee’s inside linebackers coach. Before that, Haslett was a four-time defensive coordinator in the NFL and served as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2000-05.

The XFL had some momentum when it originally re-launched in 2020, but the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return in 2021.

In 2020, Dany Garcia, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird Capital purchased the league for $15 million and are planning yet another relaunch in 2023.

“We’re going to take the best of this sport and amplify it ten times so that this is an experience that is immersive,” said Garcia, via Boardroom. “I think any brand that seeks to be in massive partnership with fans, athletes, and media partners needs to live in these principles.”

At this moment, it isn’t clear which teams Haslett and the other seven head coaches will lead.

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What is the difference in the Texans interviewing Josh McCown and Hines Ward for coach?

The Houston Texans interviewed Josh McCown and caused a tizzy. What is the difference between interviewing McCown and Hines Ward?

The Houston Texans announced they interviewed Josh McCown as they search for their fifth full-time coach in team history.

The same thing happened last year: the Texans had a vacancy, and they interviewed the former SMU and Sam Houston State product.

Houston interviewing McCown a second time in as many seasons has stirred up the people questioning the direction of the franchise and who has the real power. After all, McCown said some nice words about the resident Reverend Harry Powell character on Kirby Drive. So, analyzing the interview of McCown from that angle is the Chicken McNuggets evaluation necessary when wondering what’s wrong with the Rockets and working on the Astros preview before the date pitchers and catchers report.

What is fascinating is how the Texans weren’t scrutinized for bringing in Hines Ward for an interview.

Spare the ballads of how Ward is a two-time Super Bowl champion and played for a great organization. A lot of good that did Bart Starr, who could quarterback the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships, including two Super Bowl wins, but posted a paltry two winning seasons and one playoff win as their coach from 1975-83. Sometimes Hall-of-Fame talent on the field doesn’t translate well to the sidelines.

As a coach, Ward was a nebulous offensive assistant with the New York Jets from 2019-20. Maybe that was another example of Adam Gase squandering talent, and it could have been. However, Ward went from being on an NFL staff to being the receivers coach and special assistant to the head coach for the Florida Atlantic Owls in Conference USA.

Imagine if the Texans interviewed Rice Owls receivers coach Mike Kershaw for their coaching vacancy. In terms of coaching experience, the difference is negligible, and it would be worthy of Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets level of criticism. That is basically what Houston did by interviewing Ward.

The reality is the Texans have spent two interviews on candidates that have no legitimate shot at being coaches this cycle, nor have they proven anything to this point that they should be the fifth full-time Texans coach. Only half of that equation has anything to do with the current executive vice president of football operations.

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Houston Texans interview former Georgia WR for head coach

How cool would this be?

Per the team’s Twitter account, the Houston Texans interviewed former Georgia wide receiver Hines Ward for its head coaching vacancy on Saturday.

Ward is currently the wide receiver’s coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Ward is a Pittsburgh Steelers legend, playing and winning two Super Bowls with the franchise from 1998 to 2011.

Ward previously coached with the New York Jets from 2019-2020.

He played at Georgia from 1994-97 and simply did it all. He finished his UGA career with 1,965 receiving yards, 1,066 rushing yards and even had 918 yards passing.

On Friday, the Miami Dolphins requested to interview a former Georgia Bulldog. Thomas Brown, who played running back and served as an assistant coach under Mark Richt, will likely for the Dolphins head coaching position. He is currently an assistant with the Rams.

Texans interview Joe Lombardi and Hines Ward for coaching vacancy

The Houston Texans have expanded their coaching search and have interviewed Joe Lombardi and Hines Ward for their vacancy.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans continued their coaching search on Saturday by conducting interviews with Joe Lombardi and Hines Ward.

The Texans are one of six teams with a head coaching vacancy following the firing of David Culley on Thursday. Houston ended the 2021 season with a 4-13 record.

During the 2021 campaign, Lombardi served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Lombardi, the Chargers became one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL after averaging 27.0 points per game.

In addition to their high scoring, the Chargers recorded an average of 402.8 yards before finishing the season at 9-8.

Prior to his time as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles, Lombardi spent five seasons as the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints, where he worked with future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees.

Ward is the receivers coach at FAU. He also has the title of “special assistant to the head coach,” Willie Taggart.

Before joining FAU for the 2021 college football season, Ward joined the New York Jets in 2019 as the team’s offensive assistant. The Jets promoted Ward to receivers coach a year later.

Ward is a four-time Pro Bowl receiver who logged 12,083 receiving yards and 86 touchdowns throughout his 13-year playing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At the end of the 2005 season, Ward helped the Steelers capture their fifth Super Bowl title in franchise history after ending the night with five receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XL. In the Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Ward won MVP honors for the night.

Following Lombardi and Ward, the Texans have now interviewed three candidates for their head coaching vacancy. Houston interviewed former Miami Dolphins’ coach Brian Flores on Friday.

TRIVIA QUIZ: Georgia Bulldogs bowl history

UGA Wire presents a 10-question quiz to test your knowledge of Georgia Bulldogs postseason history.

The Georgia Bulldogs boast one of the most extensive postseason histories in college football.

With more than 50 bowl appearances and 30-plus postseason victories, Georgia football has long been a staple of the holiday season.

Fran Tarkenton, Herschel Walker, Hines Ward, David Pollack, Aaron Murray, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are just a few of the Bulldogs legends who have sparkled in postseason games through the decades.

With all that in mind, UGA Wire presents a 10-question trivia quiz to test your knowledge of Dawgs bowl history. We rate this quiz as medium/advanced difficulty.

Also see:
• Georgia Bulldogs football history quiz