Tag: Romeo Crennel

Ex-Giants assistant coach Romeo Crennel announces NFL retirement

Former New York Giants assistant coach and five-time Super Bowl champion Romeo Crennel has announced his retirement from the NFL.

Former New York Giants assistant coach Romeo Crennel officially announced his retirement on Monday after nearly 40 years in the league.

The 74-year-old Crennel coached 39 seasons in the NFL and 11 at the college level. He spent 12 years with the Giants from 1981-1992, first coaching special teams before taking over as defensive line coach in 1990.

During his time with the Giants, Crennel picked up two Super Bowl titles. He would go on to win three more as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. He was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America in 2003.

“Football has been my entire life and it’s been a dream come true to coach for 50 years,” Crennel said in a statement. “There are so many friends to thank who have helped me and supported me throughout my career. I especially want to thank the fans and owners of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans for allowing me to contribute to the game that I have loved so much for so long.

“I’ll miss everything about coaching and teaching, but the thing I’ll miss the most is being around the guys every day. My goal was to put every player and coach in the best position to succeed and I consider every guy I coached or worked with a part of my family. I would also want to thank my wife Rosemary and my three daughters, Lisa, Tiffany and Kristine, for all of their support over the years. Because of their love and selflessness, I have been able to live out my dream. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time with my grandchildren while staying around the game of football.”

In a strange twist, Crennel retires in the same year that one of his former assistants, Brian Daboll, takes the reins as Giants head coach. Another former Crennel assistant, Nick Sirianni, currently serves as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Once a Giant, always a Giant.

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Former Chiefs HC Romeo Crennel announces retirement from NFL

Romeo Crennel spent three seasons with the #Chiefs from 2010 through 2012.

Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator and head coach Romeo Crennel has announced his retirement from the NFL after 50 years of coaching and 39 years in the league.

“Football has been my entire life and it’s been a dream come true to coach for 50 years,” said Crennel. “There are so many friends to thank who have helped me and supported me throughout my career. I especially want to thank the fans and owners of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans for allowing me to contribute to the game that I have loved so much for so long. I’ll miss everything about coaching and teaching, but the thing I’ll miss the most is being around the guys every day. My goal was to put every player and coach in the best position to succeed and I consider every guy I coached or worked with a part of my family. I would also want to thank my wife Rosemary and my three daughters, Lisa, Tiffany and Kristine, for all of their support over the years. Because of their love and selflessness, I have been able to live out my dream. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time with my grandchildren while staying around the game of football.”

Crennel was hired by Todd Haley and Scott Pioli to serve as defensive coordinator in Kansas City starting in 2010. This came after Crennel took some time off following his stint as head coach with the Cleveland Browns. He served that role for two seasons, eventually taking over as interim head coach after Haley was let go during the 2011 season.

Crennel would be named full-time head coach following the conclusion of the 2011 season. He only managed a 4-15 record throughout his time as head coach in Kansas City, but will always be remembered for upsetting the undefeated Green Bay Packers in 2011. In that game, he coached a Kyle Orton-quarterbacked Chiefs team to an improbable 19-14 victory over the Packers.

Crennel most recently spent 2014-2021 with the Houston Texans, serving in a number of different roles on the defensive coaching staff and also as an interim head coach in 2020.

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Former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel retires from football

After 50 years of coaching, Crennel hangs up the whistle:

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel is retiring from coaching after 50 years. Crennel started coaching in 1971 at Western Kentucky University. He took his first job at the NFL level with the New York Giants where he stayed for 10 seasons.

Crennel joined the Browns in 200 as the team’s defensive coordinator and returned as the head coach in 2005. He was the last head coach to last four seasons in Cleveland being fired after the 2008 season.

Under Crennel, the Browns went 24-40 with one winning season, 2007 with a 10-6 record. He was a head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs for parts of two seasons and the Houston Texans for part of another. Combined in those three seasons, Crennel’s teams went 8-23.

Outside of his head coaching gigs, Crennel spent time coaching defense in a variety of roles. His demeanor and calm nature earned respect around the league.

Crennel plans to spend more time with his grandchildren now that he has retired.

The Browns Wire staff wishes Crennel nothing but the best in his retirement after an impressive 50 years coaching football.

Former Patriots DC Romeo Crennel retires after 50 years of coaching

Romeo Crennel spent 2001-04 as the Patriots’ DC and he collected three of his five Super Bowl rings during that time.

Romeo Crennel announced his retirement after 50 years as a coach, with 39 of them being spent in the NFL.

The 74-year-old spent time with six NFL teams and he had various roles — ranging from special teams coach, defensive coordinator, head coach and even the front office. Crennel’s most recent role was with the Houston Texans as the senior advisor for football performance. He’s been with the Texans since 2014 in different roles and that will mark his final chapter in the NFL.

Crennel spent 1993-96 as the New England Patriots’ defensive line coach, and then he came back as the defensive coordinator from 2001-04. The Patriots had their legendary Super Bowl run during those years and Crennel walked away with three rings.

His longevity and success mark him down as one of the most accomplished figures in NFL history.

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Former Texans defensive coordinator, interim coach Romeo Crennel retires

Former Houston Texans defensive coordinator and interim coach Romeo Crennel is calling it a career after 50 years, including 39 seasons in the NFL.

Former Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel announced his retirement Monday.

Crennel, who was the Texans’ 2020 interim coach for 12 games, issued a statement through the team to punctuate his 50 years of coaching, including 39 season in the NFL.

“Football has been my entire life and it’s been a dream come true to coach for 50 years. There are so many friends to thank who have helped me and supported me throughout my career. I especially want to thank the fans and owners of the New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans for allowing me to contribute to the game that I have loved so much for so long. I’ll miss everything about coaching and teaching, but the thing I’ll miss the most is being around the guys every day. My goal was to put every player and coach in the best position to succeed and I consider every guy I coached or worked with a part of my family. I would also want to thank my wife Rosemary and my three daughters, Lisa, Tiffany and Kristine, for all of their support over the years. Because of their love and selflessness, I have been able to live out my dream. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to spend more time with my grandchildren while staying around the game of football.”

Crennel’s NFL career started with the New York Giants in 1981 and lasted through the 1992 season. Crennel served in a variety of roles from special teams to defensive line, and was part of New York’s victorious Super Bowls XXI and XXV teams under Bill Parcells.

From 1993-96, Crennel followed Parcells to coach the defensive line for the New England Patriots, taking part in the team that appeared in Super Bowl XXXI. Crennel followed Parcells back to New York to coach the Jets’ defensive line from 1997-99.

In 2000, Crennel was the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns before going back to New England for a four-season stint under coach Bill Belichick. New England won three Super Bowls over that four-season span, and Crennel earned the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) after the 2003 campaign.

From 2005-08, Crennel coached the Browns, leading them to a 10-6 finish after the 2007 season.

Crennel was the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive coordinator from 2009-11 until coach Todd Haley was fired. Crennel took over as interim coach and later was promoted to coach ahead of the 2012 season.

After spending a year out of football, Crennel returned in 2014 as the Texans’ defensive coordinator under rookie coach Bill O’Brien. Crennel served in a variety of roles in Houston as defensive coordinator (2014-16), assistant head coach (2017-19), associate head coach (2020), interim head coach (2020) and senior advisor for football performance (2021).

In 2020, after his promotion to interim coach, a 73-year-old Crennel became the oldest person in NFL history to serve as a coach in a game, a record previously held by former Chicago Bears head coach/owner and NFL co-founder George Halas.

Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair congratulated Crennel on behalf of his family and the organization, and also stated Crennel was, “one of the most respected figures in NFL history.”

“His incredible resume and contributions to the game of football will be difficult to duplicate,” McNair said. “Romeo poured everything he had into his players and led his teams with hard work, diligence and integrity. He has impacted and influenced so many players, coaches and staff members over the last five decades and we’re honored he spent the last eight seasons with us. Our organization is better because of Romeo Crennel in so many ways. He will always be a Texan and we wish him, his wife Rosemary and his family nothing but the best in all that retirement brings.”

Crennel was part of 17 playoff appearances with 13 division crowns, six conference titles and has won five of the six Super Bowls he has appeared in. In recognition of Crennel’s accomplishments, the PFWA awarded him with the 2020 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award for lifetime achievement as an assistant coach.

Texans keep former interim coach Romeo Crennel as senior advisor for football performance

The Houston Texans are keeping former interim coach Romeo Crennel onboard as senior advisor for football performance.

The Houston Texans are sweeping away all facets of the old regime.

The Texans announced on March 10 they will be keeping Romeo Crennel onboard as senior advisor for football performance.

Crennel came to Houston in 2014 as the defensive coordinator under first-year coach Bill O’Brien, who had ties to the New England Patriots as their offensive coordinator. Similarly, Crennel was most remembered as defensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2001-04 when they won three Super Bowls in that span. Also working with the Patriots during that era was new Texans general manager Nick Caserio.

In 2017, Crennel was simply the assistant head coach as former linebackers coach Mike Vrabel took over as defensive coordinator. In 2018, Crennel took over as defensive coordinator again until giving up the duties to defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.

Four games after the 2020 season, Crennel, then the associate head coach, took over interim coach with the firing of O’Brien following an 0-4 start. The Texans finish with a 4-12 record.

New coach David Culley, the fourth full-time coach in team history, is pleased to have Crennel’s “wealth of experience” still around the team.

“Obviously, he’s been on football teams that’s been multi-Super Bowl winners, two different football teams,” Crennel said. “He’s got a wealth of experience. He’s been a head coach. He’s a guy that I have the utmost confidence in, and he’s kind of been a mentor to me throughout my career in the NFL.”

Culley has known Crennel since 1973 when he tried to recruit him to play at Western Kentucky. Crennel was the defensive line coach, but Culley chose Vanderbilt, where he was recruited by linebackers coach Bill Parcells.

“I go way back with Romeo and have followed his career, and as my career has gone up, I’ve talked to him many, many times, and I’m so elated to be able to have him here with us to be able to bounce things off of him,” said Culley.

The staff under Culley has a nice mix of the old regime, the new regime, and the influences from New England.

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Houston Texans hiring Ravens’ David Culley as head coach

The Houston Texans filled their head coaching position by hiring David Culley, a longtime NFL assistant most recently with the Baltimore Ravens

The Houston Texans are closing in on becoming the seventh NFL team to fill a head coaching vacancy with news Wednesday they will hire Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley.

The news was first reported by the Houston Chronicle, which reported Culley and the Texans were working toward a contract.

Culley spent the past two seasons in Baltimore. He has been an NFL coach for 27 years. Culley was Baltimore’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens finished the 2020 season ranked last in the NFL in passing.

Culley is stepping into a challenging situation. Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson is at odds with management over its indifference toward his suggestions while looking for a GM and coach.

The Texans previously hired Nick Caserio from the New England Patriots’ organization as GM.

Watson had suggested team speak with Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy about the opening, which came about after Bill O’Brien was fired following an 0-4 start and Romeo Crennel finished as interim coach with a 4-8 mark.

The Texans were a playoff team in 2019 and sunk to 4-12 in 2020. They also traded All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason in a controversial move.

The Ravens, meanwhile, will receive two third-round compensatory picks (one in 2021 and another in 2022) for Culley getting hired from their staff. This comes from a resolution adopted in November that is meant to incentivize NFL teams to develop and hire minority candidates for head-coaching and general manager positions.

 

 

5 coaches Titans should target for defensive coordinator position

The Titans have some intriguing options to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy.

After the Tennessee Titans didn’t name a defensive coordinator in 2020 and went on to have a terrible season on defense, it’s time for this team to hire someone for the position.

Granted, outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen handled all of the duties of a defensive coordinator without the title, but he was a rookie play-caller and didn’t have much success in the role. As a result, it’s time for change.

As we turn to the 2021 offseason, it appears that the Titans are actively looking to fill the role after Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Thursday that the team had interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers defensive assistant and secondary coach Teryl Austin for the job.

Now that we know Tennessee is planning on filling the vacancy for this season, we thought we’d take a look at five coaches the Titans should consider for the job. In making this list, we also considered the fact that familiarity is something that is important to head coach Mike Vrabel.

3 assistant coaches the Texans cannot keep in 2021

The Houston Texans cannot keep these three assistant coaches if they seek to rebound in 2021.

The Houston Texans went from 10-6, AFC South champions, and a divisional playoff appearance, to a 4-12 train wreck that fired its coach and general manager and is a soft rebuild.

In the NFL, the easiest place to make a change is at the top and Houston is planning to do just that as new general manager Nick Caserio pursues a new coach to lead the club in 2021. Here are three assistant coaches from the Bill O’Brien era that need not be retained as the Texans seek to turn over a new leaf.

How long is Romeo Crennel still under contract with the Texans?

Houston Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel is still technically the lead guy on the sidelines, at least until February.

New general manager Nick Caserio doesn’t need to be in a rush to find a new coach for the Houston Texans: he already has one.

Interim coach Romeo Crennel told reporters on Jan. 4 that he is still under contract with the team through February.

“My contract is up and I think it’s a February one or February 15th date, I’m not exactly sure,” Crennel said. “I’ve had no discussions at this point beyond that fact. The other coaches, most of the young coaches, their contracts are up. I don’t know what date is on those contracts but the team can control them for two weeks.”

The assistant coaches fall under a different criteria, which is why Caserio was visiting with a number of them last week, including offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

“I think January 12th is the date that the team has the option of retaining them or denying permission for them to talk to people,” said Crennel. “Then, after that they become free agents and they can talk to whoever they want to talk to. I know that time is a factor. Jobs availability, that’s a factor. If the club decides if they want to keep a guy until the 12th, then they will be able to keep him until the 12th. After the 12th, he will be able to go talk to anybody he wants to about a job availability. That’s what those young guys are looking at. If coaches have time remaining on their contracts, then the team can control who they are allowed to talk to and when they are allowed to talk.”

According to Crennel, sometimes teams will tell assistant coaches to interview with the new coach to see if there is a fit.

Said Crennel: “In my experience, most teams will tell coaches, ‘we would like for you to interview with the new staff of the new coach to see if they might want to keep you. Then, if he does not want to keep you, they will give you permission after that point to talk.’ In my estimation that’s somewhat of a detriment to the coach because he could potentially be getting a job, and the new guy hasn’t been named yet and the team wants to hold assistants until they can talk to the new guy.”

The Texans have cleared the first hurdle and signed Caserio as their general manager. Now, they have to determine who will replace Crennel, who is sticking around for now.