During the 1990s, the Bengals were coached by Don Shula and Mike Coslet. During the 1996 season, the Bengals finished 7-2, and Jeff Blake was the starting quarterback. This was the Bengals’ only winnable season during that period. The 1996 season was their last winnable one. Coslet has won only one season since then.
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Paul Brown
Paul Brown’s football career is filled with innovations. He was a key figure in the invention of the helmet radio transmitter. Two Browns fans proposed that Brown put a radio transmitter into the helmet of George Ratterman. They thought this would cut down on time and mistakes by substitute players. Brown kept this project a secret. To avoid scandal, one player quit the team. Brown kept the secret about Brown’s use of a radio transmitter helmet.
Art Modell was an owner of the Browns. Art Brown leased the team to him for eight years after he bought it for $4 million. After Brown became head coach, he was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame in 1967. In 2009, he was named the 12th greatest coach of all time by Sporting News. He was married to Katie Kester and had three children. He lost his wife to a cardiac arrest, but he never publicly mourned her death. He was also a good family man, and he raised his children with his wife.
After the war, Brown enlisted in the Navy and served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station near Chicago. He was named the Bluejacket football team’s head coach. This was a fascinating period as he could be called up for active service at any moment. Luckily, the war ended just as he was settling into his new life. In fact, Arch Ward, a well-respected sports editor, predicted that the American Football League would be eight-teams after the war.
Lewis
Marvin Lewis, the eighth African American head coach in NFL history is now the Arizona State Sun Devils’ head coach. Previously, he was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and helped lead the team to its first division title in fifteen years. Lewis was a Washington coordinator for one season before he joined the Bengals and became the team’s head coach in 2003. The Bengals are 0-7 in postseason games under Lewis.
The Bengals won three consecutive seasons under Lewis and were helped by the strong play of first-round draft picks. Midway through the season, Lewis surpassed Wyche as the Bengals’ all-time winning coach. He was 6-2 midway through the season, and the team was on a five-game winning streak. He was second in NFL history behind Sam Wyche (65). The Bengals went 9-7, finishing the season as the sixth seed in the playoffs.
Though he had an average record of 60-67% in his first three years with the Bengals, Marvin Lewis is considered the best head coach in the team’s history. During his tenure as Bengals head coach, he led the Bengals to four division titles and seven playoffs. Although his record is laughable, it should be considered in context. Lewis had lofty expectations for his team, and his success may have been the reason why he ended up with the job he did.
Coslet
On Dec. 15, 1996, the Bengals signed Bruce Coslet for a four-year contract. He coached the Bengals for two years. The first season of Coslet’s coaching in Cincinnati was mixed. The team was dominated by injuries, and the starting quarterback was ineffective. The Bengals lost 24-7 to Cleveland Browns. The team was also beaten by the Jacksonville Jaguars and their head coach was fired after only one game.
Coslet was the Bengals’ first season as head coach. They went 3-13. Despite the poor season, the team was able to score 448 points per game, finishing ninth in the league in total yards. Boomer Esiason, the backup quarterback, was the catalyst for this team’s turnaround. In his last season, the Bengals won two games and finished 0-3 before the 2000 season. Boomer Esiason won the MVP award, but the team did not make the playoffs. In Coslet’s final season as a head coach, the team went 6-10.
Before becoming head coach, Coslet was a special-teams assistant with the 49ers. Coslet met Paul Brown, the Bengals’ owner, under Shula. He recalled drawing special team plays in La Jolla. After his playing career ended, Coslet started a construction company and owned a couple of delicatessens. In addition to his coaching career, Coslet was a member of the organization’s executive committee.
Gregg
Many people don’t know all the details of Gregg’s coaching career. His most prominent role was that of the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator. Before his time with the Jets he was a Miami Dolphins defensive assistant coach. Although his coaching career was marred by controversy, his legacy is well-worth the attention. Below are some interesting facts about Gregg.
Gregg won his third Super Bowl in 1971 as a Dallas Cowboys player. After the season, he retired from football and became an offensive coach for the San Diego Chargers. Later, he was named the Cleveland Browns’ head coach and helped the team win Super Bowl XVI. Despite his controversial coaching style, Gregg remained active in the local community. Gregg was born in Birthright, Texas. He played college football at Southern Methodist University and was elected team captain. He was an All-American as a senior and was a two-time All-Southwest Conference pick. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
Gregg was named athletic director after the 1990 season. He would continue in that role until 1994. Later, he would be reappointed to the CFL as executive vice president of football operations with the Shreveport Pirates. He was named vice-president for football operations at the Ottawa Renegades in 2005. However, the most prominent incident in his coaching career is the infamous hit of safety Kenny Stills on the fullback Matt Suhey, which turned out to be the most brutal moment of the game.
Brown
Since 1999, the Cleveland Browns have had a variety of head coach since moving to FirstEnergy Stadium. Listed below are a few of the most memorable coaches in Brown’s head coach history. These coaches all left their mark on the franchise. The list of all head coaches is organized alphabetically by year to give a better overview. For example, Rutigliano was fired after eight games in 1984. Schottenheimer was promoted to interim head coach to full time head coach the next year. He coached eight games before he was named permanent coach.
Brown was a coach at Ohio State and also served as a Naval Officer. While he was in the Navy, he was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, which was located outside of Chicago. Brown later joined the newly formed All-America Football Conference after the war. After leaving the Navy, Brown was hired by a Cleveland franchise, which offered him the highest salary of any head coach in the country and full control over football matters.
While the first three coaches were fired, some coaches have been able to stick around for a bit longer. The last three coaches are still alive and well. Forrest Gregg was one of the most recognizable Brown head coaches. The Packers’ defensive coordinator was known for the Steel Curtain defense, and he spent three seasons with the Browns. Although his tenure with the Browns was brief, Belichick made a mark as a coach.
Walsh
William Ernest Walsh (1926-2010) was a football coach in the United States who served as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Stanford Cardinal. Walsh is most well-known for his promotion of the West Coast offense. His coaching career is much more varied than you might imagine. The following are just some of the highlights from his coaching career. In addition, you’ll also discover his educational background and career highlights. Continue reading to learn more about Walsh’s coaching career.
Bill Walsh was one the most successful NFL coaches. When Bill Brown left the team, Walsh stepped in and began working with the San Diego Chargers. Walsh is widely known for turning Dan Fouts from a Hall of Fame quarterback while there. From 1977 to 1978, Walsh was the Stanford University head coach. His Stanford squad won two bowl games under Walsh’s leadership. His coaching career is a fascinating one.
Walsh started his coaching career in 1966 as an assistant coach with the Oakland Raiders. He was a fan of vertical passing offenses and was a part of the Sid Gillman coaching family. He took over the San Jose Apaches in 1967. They finished second in the Pacific Division, before being disbanded in the preseason 1968. While still a young man, Walsh was successful enough to move up the coaching ladder. He was eventually appointed head coach of Santa Clara Titans.