Bill Musgrave
Encyclopedia
William Scott Musgrave is an American football
coach and former quarterback
. He is currently the offensive coordinator
for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
.
, Musgrave was named the Colorado High School Athlete of the Year in 1985. Musgrave started four years for the University of Oregon
, and was captain for three. Musgrave led the Ducks to back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in school history. In 1990, as a Senior, Musgrave was named team MVP, 1990 first-team all-conference quarterback, GTE Academic All-American of the Year, and earned a Scholar-Athlete Award by the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Musgrave was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2000. Musgrave is the team's career leader for passing yardage (8343).
Drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys
, Musgrave was released in camp, but played with the San Francisco 49ers
in 1991 and 1993 under head coach George Seifert
and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan
. Musgrave went with Shanahan to Denver
, where he played in 1995-96, and was released in preseason 1997.
as a quarterbacks coach for 1997. 1998 saw him with the Philadelphia Eagles
, where he was quarterbacks coach under Ray Rhodes
, another former 49er assistant. Toward the end of the year, Musgrave was calling plays instead of offensive coordinator Dana Bible. In 1999, Musgrave left to be the quarterbacks coach under George Seifert
with the Carolina Panthers
, in an arrangement that saw he and Seifert having a heavy hand in calling the plays over offensive coordinator Gil Haskell
. Upon Haskell's departure to Seattle, Musgrave was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2000.
Having enjoyed a favorable relationship with Seifert, doing gameplanning, and helping call plays was a major plus for Musgrave, and a reason the team chose him to replace Haskell, who had been a holdover from a previous staff. However, as an inexperienced coordinator, Musgrave had faltered at times, been criticized in the media for choices in playcalling, and was at one point rumored to have been yelled at by Seifert in front of the team. Musgrave resigned from the position after four games.
Musgrave accepted the position of offensive coordinator under Al Groh
at the University of Virginia
in 2001-2002, tutoring Matt Schaub
to school records. Musgrave left to be the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars
(2003–04), and was released from that position. Since, Musgrave has held the quarterbacks coach position for the Washington Redskins
(2005) and Atlanta Falcons
(2006–2009).
In 2010, Bill Musgrave was promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
In January 2011, Musgrave was hired by the Minnesota Vikings to the position of offensive coordinator.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. He is currently the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Playing career
A standout athlete at Grand Junction High SchoolGrand Junction High School
Grand Junction High School is a high school located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It is part of the Mesa County Valley School District 51.As of 2006, the student-teacher ratio is about 19:1 -Athletics:...
, Musgrave was named the Colorado High School Athlete of the Year in 1985. Musgrave started four years for the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, and was captain for three. Musgrave led the Ducks to back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time in school history. In 1990, as a Senior, Musgrave was named team MVP, 1990 first-team all-conference quarterback, GTE Academic All-American of the Year, and earned a Scholar-Athlete Award by the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Musgrave was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2000. Musgrave is the team's career leader for passing yardage (8343).
Drafted in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Musgrave was released in camp, but played with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 1991 and 1993 under head coach George Seifert
George Seifert
George Seifert is a former NFL head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. Seifert joined the 49ers' coaching staff under Bill Walsh in 1980 as defensive backs coach and served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1983–1988.As a 49er assistant, his defenses finished...
and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
. Musgrave went with Shanahan to Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he played in 1995-96, and was released in preseason 1997.
Coaching career
Immediately after being released as a player, Musgrave joined the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a quarterbacks coach for 1997. 1998 saw him with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he was quarterbacks coach under Ray Rhodes
Ray Rhodes
Raymond Earl Rhodes is currently a defensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns. He is also the former American football head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. He is the former assistant defensive backs coach of the Houston Texans...
, another former 49er assistant. Toward the end of the year, Musgrave was calling plays instead of offensive coordinator Dana Bible. In 1999, Musgrave left to be the quarterbacks coach under George Seifert
George Seifert
George Seifert is a former NFL head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. Seifert joined the 49ers' coaching staff under Bill Walsh in 1980 as defensive backs coach and served as the team's defensive coordinator from 1983–1988.As a 49er assistant, his defenses finished...
with the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, in an arrangement that saw he and Seifert having a heavy hand in calling the plays over offensive coordinator Gil Haskell
Gil Haskell
Gil Haskell is a long time NFL coach and the former Offensive Coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. He began his career in the NFL as a ball boy with the San Francisco 49ers while his uncle Dr. William O’Grady was a part owner of the franchise. Coach Haskell grew up in St. Brendan's Parish in San...
. Upon Haskell's departure to Seattle, Musgrave was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2000.
Having enjoyed a favorable relationship with Seifert, doing gameplanning, and helping call plays was a major plus for Musgrave, and a reason the team chose him to replace Haskell, who had been a holdover from a previous staff. However, as an inexperienced coordinator, Musgrave had faltered at times, been criticized in the media for choices in playcalling, and was at one point rumored to have been yelled at by Seifert in front of the team. Musgrave resigned from the position after four games.
Musgrave accepted the position of offensive coordinator under Al Groh
Al Groh
Al Groh is the defensive coordinator of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. He is also a former head coach of the University of Virginia football team, a former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team and the former head coach of the New York Jets of the NFL...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 2001-2002, tutoring Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub
Matthew Rutledge Schaub is the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-College career:...
to school records. Musgrave left to be the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2003–04), and was released from that position. Since, Musgrave has held the quarterbacks coach position for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(2005) and Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2006–2009).
In 2010, Bill Musgrave was promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
In January 2011, Musgrave was hired by the Minnesota Vikings to the position of offensive coordinator.