Winning teams that were “carried” by special teams

[Gary Najman]

The 2006 Chicago Bears, whio made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Not only they had All-Pro PR/KR Devin Hester in his prime (remember, he returned the opening kickoff for a TD vs. the Colts in the Super Bowl), but kicker Robbie Gould also was an All-Pro that year, and special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo also went to the Pro Bowl.

[74_75_78_79_]

I recall the Jets having Mike Westhoff as Special Teams coach and he was absolutely brilliant. A big return or a blocked kick or having the right guys in the right spots to recover an onside did in fact make a difference in many games. Mike Westhoff did a great job dialing up something special when the team needed it between 2001 and 2012

Westhoff was an excellent STs coach! It can be at least argued that he's the best STs coach ever. As a Steeler-fan, I liked Bobby April the two years he was there in '94 & '95. The 'Burgh already had a good offense and a great D, but STs clearly helped as well! April went on to win Special Teams Coach of the Year, for Buffalo, in both '04 and '08. The Bills did have a good D in '04 but those special teams was a big help with their 9-7 finish. Bills were 7-9 in '08 (5-1 start, actually) but sure enough that record would have been quite worse if not for their STs.

[JuggernautJ]

The 70's Vikings had a good defense, but their special teams (as far as blocks) took them to another level.

As did the kicking of Kick Fred Cox.
In 1970 the Vikings were 19th (of 26 teams) in yards gained but 3rd in points scored.
That's a lot of short fields and field goals...

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... xxFr20.htm

[Gary Najman]

The 70's Vikings had a good defense, but their special teams (as far as blocks) took them to another level.

As did the kicking of Kick Fred Cox.
In 1970 the Vikings were 19th (of 26 teams) in yards gained but 3rd in points scored.
That's a lot of short fields and field goals...

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... xxFr20.htm

Intrestingly, of the 14 TDs allowed by the Vikings, three were kickoff returns.

[74_75_78_79_]

A Giants-fan I work with is leery about a special-teams coach getting the HC nod. I tried cheering him up by mentioning Mike Ditka being a STs coach - never a DC nor OC - under Landry. I also mentioned Marv Levy. He was only ever a STs coach before getting his first HC gig with KC. And in regards to the '70s Redskins already being mentioned in this thread, Marv was their STsC in both '71 & '72 under George Allen as well as the Rams' STsC in Allen's final year there in '70. Of course hiring a 'hot' DC or OC always goes down easier with fans of the particular team at-hand, but a STsC should never be seen as an automatic shoe-out. Westhoff...Avezzano...perhaps they would have been successful HCs. We'll never know.

[Reaser]

Of course hiring a 'hot' DC or OC always goes down easier with fans of the particular team at-hand, but a STsC should never be seen as an automatic shoe-out. Westhoff...Avezzano...perhaps they would have been successful HCs. We'll never know.

John Harbaugh has worked out for the Ravens.

And Avezzano was a HC, for Oregon State and later in Arena Football for Dallas. His time at Oregon State might have been what kept him from getting a HC job in the NFL.

[JWL]

Generally speaking, special teams coaching provides more practical training towards becoming a head coach than does offensive or defensive coordinating. You deal with more players and the scope of your job duties is wider.