In the rush to fill offensive coordinator vacancies, several teams have reached out to the Indianapolis Colts about assistant coach Rob Chudzinski. Chudzinski is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and has an impressive resume that includes Cam Newton's record-setting rookie year in Carolina. The Colts apparently do not want to lose Chudzinski and have elected to block the interview requests, according to Ian Rapoport.
Colts block Rob Chudzinski from interviewing for now, Ravens hire Marty Mornhinweg as QB coach, and other NFL news
Meanwhile, Jeff Garcia could rejoin the NFL as an assistant coach.
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NFL teams have the right to block interview requests for assistant coaches under contract except when the interview is for a head coach position. Whether teams actually use their right to block varies from organization to organization.
However, there is an interesting wrinkle in Chudzinski’s case. Pro Football Talk’s Darin Gantt reports that his contract with the Colts expires in a week. At that point, he would be free to interview with any team for any position he pleases. As Gantt points out, franchises with interest in hiring Chudzinski could communicate their intentions through back channels. While doing such technically violates the rules, such is the norm in the NFL.
Baltimore announces hiring of Marty Mornhinweg as QB coach
The Baltimore Ravens made a splash Tuesday when they tabbed former Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman as their new offensive coordinator. Baltimore added another well-travelled coach to their its Wednesday, again on the offensive side of the ball. According to the team's Twitter account, they have hired former Philadelphia Eagles play caller Marty Mornhinweg as their quarterbacks coach.
Over the past two decades, Mornhinweg has worked for the Packers, 49ers, Lions, Eagles, and Jets in varying capacities. His best years came when working with Hall of Fame quarterbacks Brett Favre and Steve Young. Though Joe Flacco isn't on that level, he is still a Super Bowl winning signal caller who can win games. Mornhinweg will be charged with ironing out Flacco's flaws (decision making) while still empowering him to make the big plays that have defined his career.
Cincinnati blocks Vance Joseph from interviewing with Denver
Chudzinski isn't the only coach unable to interview. The Denver Broncos have formally requested permission to interview Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph. The Bengals were pillaged last year when both coordinators left to become head coaches elsewhere. Apparently Cincinnati has no interest in losing another assistant coach and has blocked Joseph from interviewing, per Cincinnati.com.
Joseph played his college ball at the University of Colorado, so a move to Denver would have been a coming home of sorts. It also would have given him his first crack at being a defensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Joseph, he has no control over where he can interview, at least until a team looking for a new head coach comes knocking.
Garcia wants to coach quarterbacks in the NFL
As a player, Jeff Garcia became the 49ers' first Pro Bowl quarterback since the retirement of Steve Young. After things went south in San Francisco, Garcia served as a band-aid signal caller for the Browns, Lions, Eagles, Buccaneers, Raiders, and Texans. Now, after three years out of the league, he wants back in. According to Brian Seltzer, Garcia would like to coach quarterbacks for one of his former employers.
Jeff Garcia on @JonandSeanShow on becoming QB coach: 'Whether it's Philadelphia, OAK, SF, I'm putting my name out there. This is my passion'
— Brian Seltzer (@BrianSeltzer975) January 21, 2015
Garcia certainly knows a thing or two about the position given his long NFL career and stints in the CFL and UFL. However, playing quarterback and coaching quarterbacks aren’t necessarily one in the same. On most staffs, the QB coach is the second-highest offensive assistant in rank. Though Garcia spent 2014 as the quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes, he probably needs more experience before an NFL team is willing to hire him.
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