Rich Kotite
Encyclopedia
Richard Edward "Rich" Kotite (born October 13, 1942) is a former National Football League
player and coach.
who played collegiately
at Wagner College
on Staten Island
. Kotite was drafted in the 18th round of the 1965 NFL Draft
by the Minnesota Vikings
. After playing for his hometown New York Giants
in 1967, Kotite saw action for the Pittsburgh Steelers
the next year before returning to the Giants for a four-year stint beginning in 1969.
.
during the 1990 season. After head coach Buddy Ryan
was fired, Kotite was elevated to replace him.
During his first two years, Kotite led the squad to 10 and 11-win seasons in 1991 and 1992 respectively. In his first game as coach, the Eagles lost Randall Cunningham
for the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
. His 1991 defense, coached by Bud Carson
, led the league in total defense, run defense, and pass defense. In 1992, the Eagles finished 8-0 at home and earned a wild card berth. In 1994, the Eagles began the year with a 7-2 mark; Kotite told the media that he was going to investigate his options following rumors that new team owner Jeffrey Lurie
was not going to renew his contract. The timing proved disastrous, with the Eagles losing all seven of their remaining games. After the season, Kotite was fired.
, who had just fired Pete Carroll
after one season and a 6-10 record. Kotite led the Jets to four wins over two seasons, going 3-13 in 1995 and 1-15 in 1996.
In both of his seasons as head coach, the Jets had the worst record in the NFL. Two days prior to his last game as Jets coach in 1996, Kotite announced he was stepping down and has never returned to the NFL sidelines in any coaching capacity.
's coverage of the US Open Tennis championships, and in an AmeriTrade commercial that aired during the Super Bowl XXXIV
pre-game show. The latter advertisement casts him as a father of a son who surprises his dad by saying that he wants to be a Broadway dancer.
Kotite has remained involved in the NFL, as a regular contributor for NFL Films
programming on NFL Network
, in particular NFL Top 10
.
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...
player and coach.
Playing career
Kotite was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a tight endTight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who played collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. Kotite was drafted in the 18th round of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
by 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...
. After playing for his hometown 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...
in 1967, Kotite saw action for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
the next year before returning to the Giants for a four-year stint beginning in 1969.
Coaching career
Following the end of his playing career, Kotite spent much of the next two decades serving as an assistant coach in the NFL, including a lengthy stint as Offensive Coordinator of the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kotite was offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia 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...
during the 1990 season. After head coach Buddy Ryan
Buddy Ryan
James David "Buddy" Ryan is a former American NFL football coach.-Early years:Ryan was born and reared in a small, agricultural-based community "just outside of Frederick, Oklahoma." Ryan played college football for Oklahoma A&M University where he earned four letters as a guard between 1952 and...
was fired, Kotite was elevated to replace him.
During his first two years, Kotite led the squad to 10 and 11-win seasons in 1991 and 1992 respectively. In his first game as coach, the Eagles lost Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
for the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. His 1991 defense, coached by Bud Carson
Bud Carson
Leon H. "Bud" Carson was an American football coach best known for his role on the Pittsburgh Steelers' championship teams of the 1970s.-Player:Carson played defensive back for North Carolina from 1949 to 1951, then entered the Marines.-Georgia Tech:...
, led the league in total defense, run defense, and pass defense. In 1992, the Eagles finished 8-0 at home and earned a wild card berth. In 1994, the Eagles began the year with a 7-2 mark; Kotite told the media that he was going to investigate his options following rumors that new team owner Jeffrey Lurie
Jeffrey Lurie
Jeffrey Lurie is a former Hollywood producer-turned National Football League team owner. Lurie bought the Philadelphia Eagles on May 6, 1994 from then-owner Norman Braman for $195 million...
was not going to renew his contract. The timing proved disastrous, with the Eagles losing all seven of their remaining games. After the season, Kotite was fired.
New York Jets
After his dismissal by the Eagles, Kotite returned to the New York area, where he was hired as head coach of the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who had just fired Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll
Peter Clay Carroll is the head coach and executive Vice-President of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He is a former head coach of the New York Jets, New England Patriots and the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Early life:Carroll attended Redwood High...
after one season and a 6-10 record. Kotite led the Jets to four wins over two seasons, going 3-13 in 1995 and 1-15 in 1996.
In both of his seasons as head coach, the Jets had the worst record in the NFL. Two days prior to his last game as Jets coach in 1996, Kotite announced he was stepping down and has never returned to the NFL sidelines in any coaching capacity.
Post NFL
In his post-coaching career, Kotite has been seen in a promotional commercial for USA NetworkUSA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's coverage of the US Open Tennis championships, and in an AmeriTrade commercial that aired during the Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
pre-game show. The latter advertisement casts him as a father of a son who surprises his dad by saying that he wants to be a Broadway dancer.
Kotite has remained involved in the NFL, as a regular contributor for NFL Films
NFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
programming on NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
, in particular NFL Top 10
NFL Top 10
NFL Top 10 is a documentary program produced by NFL Films for airing on the NFL Network. The host and narrator is Derrin Horton.The program counts down 10 items directly related to the players, coaches, and events of the National Football League, with former players, NFL Network personalities, and...
.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | PHI 1991 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1991 Philadelphia Eagles season resulted in missing the postseason, despite having a 10–6 record and finishing with the top-ranked defense in the NFL. During Week 1, quarterback Randall Cunningham was lost for the season with a knee injury.... |
1991 1991 NFL season The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills.... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3rd in NFC East | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI 1992 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1992 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 60th in the league. The team improved upon their previous output of 10–6, winning eleven games and qualifying for the playoffs.-Offseason:... |
1992 1992 NFL season The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in NFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to 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... in NFC Divisional Game |
| PHI 1993 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1993 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 61st in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous output of 11–5, winning only eight games and failing to qualify for the playoffs for only the second time in six seasons... |
1993 1993 NFL season The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in NFC East | ||||
| PHI 1994 Philadelphia Eagles season The 1994 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 62nd in the league. On May 6, 1994, the NFL approved the transfer of majority interest in the club from Norman Braman to Jeffrey Lurie. The team failed to improve upon their previous output of 8–8, winning only seven games and failing to qualify for the... |
1994 1994 NFL season The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4th in NFC East | ||||
| PHI Total | 36 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | ||||
| NYJ 1995 New York Jets season The 1995 New York Jets season was the 36th season for the team and the 26th in the National Football League. The Jets entered the 1995 season with their third different head coach in as many years as former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Rich Kotite was hired to replace Pete Carroll, who was fired... |
1995 1995 NFL season The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars... |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 5th in AFC East | ||||
| NYJ 1996 New York Jets season The 1996 New York Jets season began with the team trying to improve upon its league-worst 3–13 record from 1995. However, this season proved even more calamitous as they finished 1–15, which is the worst record in franchise history... |
1996 1996 NFL season The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end... |
1 | 15 | 0 | .063 | 5th in AFC East | ||||
| NYJ Total | 4 | 28 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 40 | 56 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | ||||