3 NFL Head Coaches Flourish in First Year
At this time last year, John Harbaugh was a secondary coach with the Philadelphia Eagles more renowned for his years spent running the special teams. Mike Smith was a little-known Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator whose primary claim to coaching fame was being the brother-in-law of Brian Billick, the former Baltimore Ravens coach who won a Super Bowl. Tony Sparano was an obscure offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Now they might be the NFL’s three leading coach of the year candidates, and they’re poised to take their teams to the playoffs as rookie head coaches. Smith’s Atlanta Falcons already are in. Harbaugh’s Ravens and Sparano’s Miami Dolphins can secure postseason spots with victories tomorrow on the final day of the regular season.
washingtonpost.com
12/27/08
