Romeo Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history. Crennel, who returns to Cleveland after serving as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2000, most recently crafted the defense for the New England Patriots and helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl in three of the last four seasons (2001, 2003-04). Crennel was widely recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL. His resume includes 35 years of coaching experience, including 24 years in the NFL.
Crennel's defense played an integral role in the Patriots' 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, as the defense forced four Eagles turnovers, put pressure on Eagles QB Donovan McNabb with four sacks and limited the Eagles running game to 45 net yards rushing.
In the 2004 postseason, New England allowed only 51 points (17 points per game) in three postseason games, including a 20-3 win over Indianapolis in an AFC Divisional Playoff game, a 41-27 win at Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game and the 24-21 win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX. In New England's AFC Divisional Playoff victory over Indianapolis, the Patriots did not allow the Colts in the endzone during their 20-3 victory, marking the first time in NFL history that a team led the league in scoring during the regular season and did not score a touchdown in a playoff game.
During the 2004 regular season, the Patriots ranked ninth in the NFL in total defense (310.8 yards per game), sixth in run defense (98.3 yards per game) and 17th in pass defense (212.5 yards per game). Crennel's defensive unit was tied for third in the NFL with 45 sacks, tied for second with 260 points allowed (16.3 points per game) on the year, allowed nine rushing TDs on the season and ranked third in the AFC in red zone defense (40.8%). The defense recorded this feat using 10 different starting lineups.
In 2003, he was recognized by the Pro Football Writers of America as the NFL's Assistant Coach of the Year. The New England defense was among the best units in NFL history, propelling the Patriots to a 15-game winning streak that culminated with a 32-29 victory over Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII. New England allowed a league-low and franchise-record 14.9 points per game, while also leading the league with 29 interceptions. The dominance of the defense was evident by the team's three shutouts, equaling the franchise shutout total from the previous 17 seasons combined. The Patriots defense was at its best at home, where it allowed only 9.6 points per game and surrendered just four touchdowns in the regular season. During one stretch, the Patriots did not allow a touchdown on 62 consecutive opponents' possessions at home, a streak that spanned more than five games of clock time. New England was the first team in 65 years to keep its opponent out of the end zone in four consecutive home games in a season. The Patriots defense provided some potent offense of its own, leading the NFL with six defensive touchdowns, including five interceptions returned for scores, tying a team record.
Crennel returned to the New England Patriots when he was named the defensive coordinator on Bill Belichick's staff on Feb. 1, 2001. In 2001, the defense played an integral role in propelling the Patriots to a season-ending win streak to claim the first Super Bowl title for the franchise. The 2001 Patriots surrendered just 272 points (17.0 ppg), ranking sixth in the league for fewest points allowed. In its last five regular season games, the defense surrendered just seven field goals and one touchdown. The Patriots won all five of those games and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Crennel was reunited with Belichick in 2001 as the two coaches began coaching together as assistants on Ray Perkins' staff for the New York Giants in 1981. The 2004 season marked the 18th campaign for Crennel and Belichick together, during which time they have earned five Super Bowl titles, six conference titles and eight division titles. While with the Patriots, Crennel and Belichick have contributed to victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX, in addition to New England's AFC title in 1996.
The Patriots defense created opportunities for the offense in 2001 by recording 22 interceptions (second in the AFC, sixth in the NFL), 12 more than they had in 2000. Five of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, setting a single-season franchise record. In the playoffs, DB Ty Law added another interception, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown in the 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Crennel, who was the defensive line coach for the Patriots from 1993 to 1996, spent three seasons with the New York Jets (1997-99) and a season as the defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2000). During his season in Cleveland, the Browns recorded 42 sacks, a 17-sack improvement from the 1999 season.
In his three seasons as Jets' defensive line coach, the New York defense was among the best in the NFL, never allowing more than 20 points per game for a season. In 1997, he successfully incorporated a rotation of six new defensive linemen on a unit that allowed just 287 total points (17.9 points per game), second in the AFC and sixth in the NFL. The following season, he added four new linemen to his rotation and the formula contributed to an improvement from the year before as the defense allowed just 16.6 points per game, finishing second in the league.
His first tenure in New England was a four-year assignment as Bill Parcells' defensive line coach, beginning in 1993 and ending with an AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXI appearance in January of 1997. In 1994, the Patriots qualified for the playoffs for the first time in eight years after winning their last seven games of the regular season. The defense allowed just 13.3 points per game during that seven-game stretch. In 1996, the Patriots defense allowed just 12.8 points per game in the final five contests of the regular season to propel the team back to the playoffs.
Crennel began his professional coaching career in 1981 as a special assignments/special teams/defensive assistant coach with the New York Giants. He became the special teams coach in 1983 and was assigned the defensive line position in 1990, a position he has since coached for 14 seasons. In 12 seasons in New York (1981-92), the Giants qualified for the playoffs six times, won three division titles and two Super Bowl championships. In his first season in New York, the Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1963.
His first Super Bowl championship with the Giants staff was following the 1986 season as special teams coach and a 39-20 win over Denver in Super Bowl XXI. The Giants also won Super Bowl XXV, 20-19, over Buffalo as Crennel served as defensive line coach.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, in 1970. He was named defensive line coach the following season in 1971. In 1975, he started a three-year tenure at Texas Tech as a defensive assistant on Parcells' staff. In 1978, he was named the defensive ends coach at Mississippi. After two seasons at Ole Miss, he accepted a position at Georgia Tech in 1980, where he spent his final season in the collegiate ranks before being hired by the Giants in 1981.
Crennel was a four-year starter (1966-69) as a defensive lineman at Western Kentucky. After three seasons as one of the Hilltoppers' top tacklers, he was elected team captain as a senior. When the Western Kentucky offense struggled early in the season, Crennel willingly gave up what would have been a sure shot at all-conference honors as a defensive lineman to fill in at offensive tackle. The move helped solidify the offensive line and earned Crennel team MVP honors.
Crennel is a native of Lynchburg, Va. He was a high school standout at both Fort Knox (Ky.) High and Central High (Amherst, Va.). He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Western Kentucky, and then earned his master's degree while serving as a graduate assistant for the school in 1970. His brother, Carl, played linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970 and played in the CFL from 1971-81 for five different teams. Romeo and his wife, Rosemary, have three daughters, Lisa Tulley, Tiffany Crennel and Kristin Cullinane. |
Rob Chudzinski was named Browns offensive coordinator on Jan. 20, 2007. Chudzinski brings 13 years of coaching experience, including three years in the NFL and ten years in the collegiate ranks. Chudzinski joins the Browns after serving as the San Diego Chargers tight ends coach the last two seasons. Chudzinski previously served as Browns tight ends coach during the 2004 season under Head Coach Butch Davis, and also served as offensive coordinator that season for the final five games under interim Head Coach Terry Robiskie. Chudzinski served as the San Diego Chargers tight ends coach from 2005-06 and worked with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. In 2006, Gates led the Chargers in all receiving categories including 71 receptions for 924 yards (13.0 avg.) and nine receiving touchdowns. During the 2005 campaign, Gates set career-highs with 89 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 89 receptions tied Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow’s team record for single receptions by a tight end and his 1,101 yards were the most in Chargers history since 1983 when Winslow racked up 1,172. Gates 10 touchdown catches matched his 2004 total and he became the first NFL tight end with 10 or more touchdown catches in consecutive seasons. A native of Toledo, Chudzinski returned to his Northeast Ohio roots as the Browns tight ends coach under Head Coach Butch Davis. Chudzinski worked with Browns first round draft choice, Kellen Winslow II, who he previously coached at the University of Miami. During that season Chudzinski was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games under Interim Head Coach Terry Robiskie after the resignation of Head Coach Butch Davis. Chudzinski worked extensively with Kellen Winslow II at the University of Miami as the Hurricanes offensive coordinator and tight ends coach (2001-03). In 2003, Winslow II won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top collegiate tight end before becoming the Browns first-round selection, sixth overall, in the 2004 NFL Draft. During his three seasons as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at the University of Miami, the Hurricanes played in three Bowl Championship Series games, including two National Championship games. In 2001, the ‘Canes went 12-0 and defeated Nebraska to win the National Championship. In 2002, Miami’s offense set school records for points (527), total yards (6,074) and rushing touchdowns (33) and averaged 40.5 points per game, while averaging 284.2 yards per game passing and 183.0 yards per game rushing. The ’Canes went 12-1 in 2002, their only defeat coming in overtime against Ohio State in the National Championship game. In 2003, Miami averaged 27.8 points per game and finished with an 11-2 record, including a 16-14 victory over Florida State in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Chudzinski spent a total of ten years as an assistant at Miami, including five years as tight ends coach (1996-2000) and two as a graduate assistant coach (1994-95). He also helped develop two other All-America tight ends, Bubba Franks in 1999 and Jeremy Shockey in 2001. Franks and Shockey both became first-round picks and Pro Bowlers with Green Bay and the New York Giants, respectively. Chudzinski joined the Hurricanes staff as a graduate assistant in 1994. He played tight end at Miami from 1986-90, earned three letters, and was a member of two national championship teams (1987 and 1989). He graduated with a B.A. in business administration in 1990 and later earned a MBA in 1996. Chudzinski was born on May 12, 1968 and grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he starred at Toledo St. John’s High School. He is married to the former Sheila Danker. |
Todd Grantham was named the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns on February 17, 2005. Grantham joins the Browns with six years of NFL coaching experience with Houston (2002-04) and Indianapolis (1999-2001) as a defensive line coach and also brings nine additional years of coaching experience from the collegiate level.
Last season as the defensive line coach for the Houston Texans, Grantham's line worked in a 3-4 defensive scheme and his group totaled 5.5 sacks, 76 quarterback pressures and 9 passes defensed. Overall, the Texans defense ranked 13th in the NFL against the run and late in the 2004 season, featured a span of keeping opponents out of the end zone for nearly 207 consecutive minutes, equivalent of nearly three-and-one-half games.
In 2003, Grantham's defensive line unit was devastated by injuries, as NT Seth Payne suffered a season ending knee injury in week two and Pro Bowl DE Gary Walker played in just four games due to shoulder and toe injuries. Despite the injuries, Grantham was able to mix and match his defensive linemen effectively as DT Jerry Deloach collected a career-high 109 tackles and NT Steve Martin racked up 92 stops in only 14 games. In 2002, Grantham's three starters (Gary Walker, Seth Payne, Jerry Deloach) all produced career-high numbers in tackles and Walker earned his second Pro Bowl invitation after racking up 115 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Grantham arrived in Houston in 2002 after spending the previous three seasons in the same capacity for the Indianapolis Colts. Grantham's charges registered 96 sacks over three seasons, helping the Colts post a 29-19 record and advance to the playoffs twice. Indianapolis' 10-win improvement from 1998 to 1999 marked the greatest one-season turnaround in league history. In 1999 and 2000, the Colts posted 56 sacks, the highest two-year total for the club since it moved to Indianapolis.
Prior to his stint in Indianapolis, Grantham served three seasons as the defensive line coach at Michigan State (1996-98). He added the title of assistant head coach in his final season in East Lansing in 1998. Michigan State ranked 19th in total defense in 1996 and 13th in 1997, making consecutive bowl trips.
Grantham spent six seasons (1990-95) at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, the final two as defensive line coach. In 1995, the Hokies ranked first nationally in rushing defense, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Virginia Tech racked up 50 sacks en route to the Big East title and a Sugar Bowl triumph over Texas. Grantham coached defensive ends and inside linebackers from 1990-91 and defensive tackles from 1992-93.
Grantham played guard and tackle for the Hokies from 1984-88. He earned second-team All-South and honorable mention All-America honors as a senior. Grantham earned a bachelor's degree in sports management. A native of Pulaski, Va., Grantham and his wife, Paige, have a son, Corbin. |
