Chris Palmer (football coach)
Encyclopedia
Chris Palmer is the offensive coordinator
of the American football
NFL's Tennessee Titans
. He is the former head coach
of the Hartford Colonials in the United Football League, and also a former head coach
of the Cleveland Browns
and former assistant coach of the Houston Texans
, Jacksonville Jaguars
, New England Patriots
, and Houston Oilers
of the National Football League
. He was the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys
and the New York Giants
.
high school located in Danbury, Connecticut
. After high school he attended and played at Southern Connecticut State University
. Palmer played quarterback for Southern Connecticut State from 1968-71. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SCSU, where he was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame at New Haven and Immaculate High School.
After graduation from Southern Connecticut State University, Palmer coached under Larry Naviaux
at the University of Connecticut
. While at UCONN, Palmer also devoted his time to help develop sports talent, as quoted by Jeff Naviaux "Chris helped me learn the importance of a team". Palmer coached the freshman defensive line in 1972 and the varsity wide receivers in 1973 and 74. In 1975, he became the wide receivers coach at Lehigh University
. The following year, Palmer was named the offensive coordinator at Colgate University
, where he stayed for seven years. In 1977, the Red Raiders led the nation in total offense with an average of 486 yards a game.
Prior to entering the NFL, Palmer was a successful college coach. He was the head coach at Boston University
in 1988-89 and at the University of New Haven
in 1986-87, when the Chargers posted consecutive 8-2 records.
. The following year, he coached the wide receivers for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals
. In 1985, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. That year, Palmer’s offense featured quarterback Doug Flutie
and running back Herschel Walker
, who rushed for 2,411 yards.
wide receivers coach from 1990-92 when Kevin Gilbride
was the Houston offensive coordinator. During those three seasons, the Run ‘N Shoot Oilers had the NFL’s most productive passing attack. Four Houston wide receivers – Curtis Duncan
, Ernest Givens (twice), Drew Hill
and Haywood Jeffires
(twice) made the Pro Bowl while being coached by Palmer.
as the New England Patriots
wide receivers coach from 1993-95. In 1996, he became the quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Drew Bledsoe
as they advanced to Super Bowl XXXI
.
, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars
, spending the 1997-98 seasons as offensive coordinator under head coach Tom Coughlin
.
for the 1999-2000 seasons, the first two for the "new" Browns after the original team had moved to Baltimore. With a roster full of inexperienced players and cast-offs from other franchises, Palmer struggled to get the team competitive, especially on offense. Palmer was fired after posting a 5-27 record in two seasons, and was succeeded by former University of Miami
coach Butch Davis
.
under head coach Dom Capers
. He remained with Houston until he was fired in Week 2 of the 2005 NFL season
as a result of Houston's lackluster offense.
to be the quarterbacks coach. He was reunited with head coach Bill Parcells
and quarterback Drew Bledsoe
whom he had worked with during his days with the New England Patriots
.
On January 29, 2010 Palmer announced his retirement.
named Palmer as the new offensive coordinator
, which was previously held by Mike Heimerdinger
Assistant coaches under Chris Palmer who became NFL head coaches:
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...
of the American football
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...
NFL's Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He is the former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Hartford Colonials in the United Football League, and also a former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and former assistant coach of the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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...
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, and Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
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...
. He was the quarterbacks coach for 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...
and the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
High school and college
Palmer played high school football at Immaculate High School a small CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high school located in Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
. After high school he attended and played at Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
. Palmer played quarterback for Southern Connecticut State from 1968-71. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SCSU, where he was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame at New Haven and Immaculate High School.
After graduation from Southern Connecticut State University, Palmer coached under Larry Naviaux
Larry Naviaux
-References:...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. While at UCONN, Palmer also devoted his time to help develop sports talent, as quoted by Jeff Naviaux "Chris helped me learn the importance of a team". Palmer coached the freshman defensive line in 1972 and the varsity wide receivers in 1973 and 74. In 1975, he became the wide receivers coach at Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
. The following year, Palmer was named the offensive coordinator at Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
, where he stayed for seven years. In 1977, the Red Raiders led the nation in total offense with an average of 486 yards a game.
Prior to entering the NFL, Palmer was a successful college coach. He was the head coach at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1988-89 and at the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
in 1986-87, when the Chargers posted consecutive 8-2 records.
Initial professional coaching experience
Palmer’s first professional coaching experience came in 1983, when he was the offensive line coach for the Montreal Concordes in the Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. The following year, he coached the wide receivers for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
. In 1985, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. That year, Palmer’s offense featured quarterback Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
and running back Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
, who rushed for 2,411 yards.
Houston Oilers
Palmer’s first NFL coaching experience was as the Houston OilersTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
wide receivers coach from 1990-92 when Kevin Gilbride
Kevin Gilbride
Kevin Gilbride is an American football coach. Gilbride served as the San Diego Chargers head coach from 1997-1998. He went to Southern Connecticut State University, where he played both quarterback and tight end. He would later coach at his alma mater for five seasons starting in 1980 and compiled...
was the Houston offensive coordinator. During those three seasons, the Run ‘N Shoot Oilers had the NFL’s most productive passing attack. Four Houston wide receivers – Curtis Duncan
Curtis Duncan
Curtis Everett Duncan , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL Draft.A 5'11", 184-lb...
, Ernest Givens (twice), Drew Hill
Drew Hill
Andrew Hill was a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 12th round of the 1979 NFL Draft....
and Haywood Jeffires
Haywood Jeffires
Haywood Franklin Jeffires is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round of the 1987 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State. A 6'2", . wide receiver, Jeffires played in 10 NFL seasons from 1987-1996...
(twice) made the Pro Bowl while being coached by Palmer.
New England Patriots
Palmer first worked under Bill ParcellsBill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
as the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
wide receivers coach from 1993-95. In 1996, he became the quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
as they advanced to Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Following Super Bowl XXXISuper Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
, he joined 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...
, spending the 1997-98 seasons as offensive coordinator under head coach Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin
Thomas Richard Coughlin is an American football coach who is currently head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League . Coughlin has led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin was also the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 1995–2002 and...
.
Cleveland Browns
Palmer became the head coach of the reborn Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the 1999-2000 seasons, the first two for the "new" Browns after the original team had moved to Baltimore. With a roster full of inexperienced players and cast-offs from other franchises, Palmer struggled to get the team competitive, especially on offense. Palmer was fired after posting a 5-27 record in two seasons, and was succeeded by former University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
coach Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
.
Houston Texans
In 2002, he became the offensive coordinator of the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
under head coach Dom Capers
Dom Capers
Ernest Dominic "Dom" Capers is an American football coach, the current defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and the only man to serve two different National Football League expansion teams as their inaugural head coach....
. He remained with Houston until he was fired in Week 2 of the 2005 NFL season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
as a result of Houston's lackluster offense.
Dallas Cowboys
In January 2006, several months after his firing from Houston, Palmer was hired by the Dallas CowboysDallas 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...
to be the quarterbacks coach. He was reunited with head coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
and quarterback Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
whom he had worked with during his days with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
New York Giants
In January 2007, Palmer was hired by the New York Giants as their new quarterbacks coach, reuniting with the team's head coach, Tom Coughlin, whom he worked with in Jacksonville.On January 29, 2010 Palmer announced his retirement.
Hartford Colonials
Following his retirement from the NFL, Palmer was named as the head coach and general manager of the United Football League's Hartford Colonials.Tennessee Titans
On February 15, 2011, the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
named Palmer as the new 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...
, which was previously held by Mike Heimerdinger
Mike Heimerdinger
Michael "Mike" Heimerdinger was a football coach in the National Football League.-Career:Heimerdinger was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, a position he had served in from 2000-2004 and again from 2008-2010...
Professional Head Coaching Record
| Team | |Regular Season | CLE Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
1999 1999 NFL season The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season... |
2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 6th in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
2000 2000 NFL season The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000... |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 6th in AFC Central | - | - | - | - | ||
| CLE Total | 5 | 27 | 0 | .156 | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||||||
| HAR | 2010 2010 UFL season The 2010 United Football League season was the second season of the United Football League. The regular season ran from September 18 to November 20 and featured five teams playing eight games each over a 10-week span. The 2010 season was a relatively competitive one as no team won more than five... |
3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 4th in UFL | - | - | - | - | ||
| HAR Total | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||||||
| Total | 8 | 32 | 0 | .200 | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||||||
Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Chris Palmer has served:- Jack PardeeJack Pardee-NFL:-External links:...
, Houston OilersTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
(1990–1992) - Bill ParcellsBill ParcellsDuane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
(1993–1996), Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe 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...
(2006) - Tom CoughlinTom CoughlinThomas Richard Coughlin is an American football coach who is currently head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League . Coughlin has led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin was also the inaugural head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, serving from 1995–2002 and...
, Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe 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...
(1997–1998), New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2007–2009) - Dom CapersDom CapersErnest Dominic "Dom" Capers is an American football coach, the current defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and the only man to serve two different National Football League expansion teams as their inaugural head coach....
, Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2002–2005)
Assistant coaches under Chris Palmer who became NFL head coaches:
- Romeo CrennelRomeo CrennelRomeo Crennel is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and current defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Before becoming the head coach of the Browns, Crennel won three Super Bowls in four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the New England...
, Cleveland Browns (2005–2008) - Ken WhisenhuntKen WhisenhuntKenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
, Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2007–present) - Tony SparanoTony SparanoAnthony "Tony" Sparano III is an American Football head coach of the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night...
, Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2008–present)