Tag: Bill O’Brien

New offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien watches quarterback Bryce Young take a snap during practice. The Alabama Crimson Tide opened practice for the 2021 season as they prepare to defend the 2020 National Championship Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.] Alabama First Practice

Reports: Jaguars to interview Bill O’Brien next week

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing in former Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien for an interview next week, multiple outlets reported Friday.

O’Brien, 52, led the Texans to a 52-48 record and four playoff appearances during his seven-year tenure (2014-20). He was fired after an 0-4 start to the 2020 campaign.

He is currently the offensive coordinator at Alabama and will coach in Monday night’s national championship game against Georgia.

The Jaguars are seeking a replacement for Urban Meyer, who was fired last month due to a disappointing season on the field and a series of embarrassing incidents off of it.

Doug Pederson, Jim Caldwell and Todd Bowles have reportedly already interviewed with Jacksonville. Others said to be under consideration include NFL offensive coordinators Kellen Moore (Dallas Cowboys), Nathaniel Hackett (Green Bay Packers) and Byron Leftwich (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

–Field Level Media

Offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien watches quarterback Bryce Young take a snap during practice.

Alabama assistants Bill O’Brien, Doug Marrone test positive

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Doug Marrone have tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Wednesday.

Both coaches are experiencing mild symptoms and are isolating at home.

“We anticipate both being able to coach in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said in a statement.

No. 1 Alabama (12-1) faces No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0) on Dec. 31 in Arlington, Texas.

O’Brien, 52, is in his first season on Saban’s staff. He was the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-20.

Marrone, 57, is also in his first season in Tuscaloosa. He was head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2017-20.

Alabama announced Tuesday that it was increasing its COVID-19 protocols ahead of the College Football Playoff, including a return to wearing masks in their facility and maintaining social distancing during meetings. Earlier this week, Saban said more than 90 percent of the players had received a booster shot.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama hires Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama hired former Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien as its offensive coordinator Thursday night.

O’Brien will follow in the footsteps of Steve Sarkisian, who left his job as Crimson Tide offensive coordinator to become head coach of the Texas Longhorns.

The hiring marks the second ex-NFL head coach to join Nick Saban’s staff this offseason. Doug Marrone agreed to become offensive line coach after spending four-plus seasons in charge of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In six-plus years with the Texans, O’Brien posted a 52-48 record and won four AFC South division titles. Before that, he served as Penn State’s head coach for two years, going 15-9 overall and 10-6 in the Big Ten.

This will be O’Brien’s first job as a college offensive coordinator since 2005-06 with Duke. His performance there helped him land a job with the New England Patriots, where he called plays for three seasons and worked closely with Tom Brady and the rest of the team’s quarterbacks.

“We are pleased and happy to be able to add Bill O’Brien to our coaching staff,” Saban said in a statement. “He has a wealth of experience as both an offensive coordinator and head coach in the NFL and college. Bill is one of the brightest offensive minds in football, an outstanding teacher and excellent recruiter. He will strengthen our coaching staff and give our players the best possible chance to be successful.”

O’Brien added in a statement, “I am honored and excited to join Coach Saban’s staff at The University of Alabama. I have an incredible amount of admiration for the rich football tradition at this University and the success Coach Saban has had during his time in Tuscaloosa. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with some of the best football players in the country, while helping to continue the success this program has enjoyed for many years.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 25, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Alabama to hire Bill O’Brien as OC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bill O’Brien, fired as head coach and general manager of the Houston Texans in October, apparently landed an impressive new gig.

Reigning national champion Alabama was finalizing a deal to make O’Brien the offensive coordinator on head coach Nick Saban’s staff, ESPN reported Wednesday night.

O’Brien would replace Steve Sarkisian, who exited Tuscaloosa to become the head coach at Texas. O’Brien would take over an offense that manhandled Ohio State on Monday as the Crimson Tide won 52-24 in the College Football Playoff national championship game at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Alabama finished second in the nation in scoring at 48.5 points per game, fourth in total offense with an average of 541.6 yards per game, and third in passing offense at 358.2 yards per game.

However, Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith, quarterback Mac Jones and running back Najee Harris are projected to be first-round NFL draft picks.

O’Brien was successful for most of his run as the Texans’ head coach, which started in 2014. He produced five winning seasons and four playoff appearances in his first six seasons, compiling a 52-44 record in that span.

He added general manager duties in January 2020, and he came under fire two months later when he dealt All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Critics blasted the Texans’ return in the deal as being far too little.

Prior to his time in Houston, O’Brien was the head coach at Penn State in 2012 and 2013, producing a 15-9 record with the team serving a bowl ban tied to the Jerry Sandusky child-sex-abuse scandal.

O’Brien was an assistant coach with the New England Patriots from 2007-11, serving as offensive coordinator in his final season there. He earlier had stints as an assistant coach for Brown, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke.

–Field Level Media