Head Coach - Lions announce Jeff Tedford as 2015 HC

[cromartie]

I'm down with this too. I'll believe it when the i's are crossed and the t's are dotted, but I'm down with this. Absolutely.

[The_Pauser]

According to Farhan Lalji, Wally hasn't had any formal, in-person interviews with any candidate thus yet. Nor have the two sides discussed money, and Wally has stated nothing is imminent. Just that Tedford didn't hang up the phone.

It seems to me like Wally is doing his due diligence and perhaps Tedford is at the top of his list right now. While it would be a great hiring, I'm not going to get my hopes up just yet. At least not until he's brought in for a formal interview.

[Ravi]

George Cortez was Tedford's offensive coordinator for a few years in the NCAA as well so you can see where this might be going.

[WestCoastJoe]

According to Farhan Lalji, Wally hasn't had any formal, in-person interviews with any candidate thus yet. Nor have the two sides discussed money, and Wally has stated nothing is imminent. Just that Tedford didn't hang up the phone.

It seems to me like Wally is doing his due diligence and perhaps Tedford is at the top of his list right now. While it would be a great hiring, I'm not going to get my hopes up just yet. At least not until he's brought in for a formal interview.

Yes. Hard not to get hopes up. But it seems very little of substance has happened yet.

How much is Braley willing to pay to keep the Good Ship Leo afloat?

[B.C.FAN]

I want to know more about Tedford's heart issues before going much further. If he was too sick to be a coordinator in the NFL this year, can we be assured he's healthy enough to be a head coach?

[korey&dante4ever]

George Cortez was Tedford's offensive coordinator for a few years in the NCAA as well so you can see where this might be going.

Wow.
I like when coaching staffs are assembled and the pieces fit together perfectly. This 'clicks'. For me right now, it's tedford or its a major dissapointment. Time will tell i suppose.

[Sir Purrcival]

Not an expansive search if this is correct. He only fired Benevides what 2 weeks ago. Surely he can't be that far along in the search process yet?

Listen. There's a Hawaiian vacation to get to.

In all seriousness, how long do you want him to take, exactly. Do you want to wait until the NFL season is over in January? After US college coaches are done with their bowl games?

Dickenson said no.
Hamilton refused us permission to talk to Steinhauer.

Those are the two inquires we know of, and we already speculated on here how thin the pool was to begin with.

I don't have a timeline but I was just having a hard time thinking he had narrowed it down that quickly. I mean how exhaustive a search can you do in 2 weeks? Sounds like a good guy by the posts on here but it also sounds more like what I would have expected, that little of substance has occurred yet. With the recent end of the season, the upcoming holiday, the fact that the NFL hasn't ended yet and we haven't seen who may or may not be available outside of the CFL; if it takes into January or Feb to get if right, then yes. The only reason I would see something different would be if someone came along that was an absolute no brainer. Maybe this guy is it, I don't know but you can't blame me for being a bit surprised when only 2 weeks out, you read a post saying that Buono is heavily leaning in a certain direction. Kind of flies in the face of the commitment to undertake an exhaustive search both inside and outside of the league.

[TheLionKing]

From Arash Madani:

Per #CFL sources: #BCLions leaning toward hiring Jeff Tedford as head coach. Former Cal coach/CFL QB worked with Buono in Calgary in 90s.

Another one of Buono's cronies

[TheLionKing]

I agree with Cromartie, I'll believe it when the "t's" and "i's" are dotted. All this speculation when Buono hasn't even formally interview Tedford.

[Blitz]

If we got him, that would be a very nice Christmas present.

I'd be over the moon. An amazing offensive mind from all accounts. This would be huge.

Make a little wish.

If we were able to hire Tedford this is a much more qualified HC that I ever thought we could attract. He was Lovie Smith's hand picked candidate to run their offence. He has Head Coaching experience and success with a major U.S. college, running a big football program. He knows how to coach quarterbacks. He has a very good offensive mind.

I still can't believe that this is a possiblity. Tedford was paid 1. 8 million in California. He must have been able to sign for significant dollars as an NFL offensive coordinator.

I didn't believe we could attract this kind of candidate, financially or otherwise. I would be thrilled if it really happened but right now I still find it difficult to think its more than just a rumour.

[WestCoastJoe]

I'd be over the moon. An amazing offensive mind from all accounts. This would be huge.

Make a little wish.

If we were able to hire Tedford this is a much more qualified HC that I ever thought we could attract. He was Lovie Smith's hand picked candidate to run their offence. He has Head Coaching experience and success with a major U.S. college, running a big football program. He knows how to coach quarterbacks. He has a very good offensive mind.

I still can't believe that this is a possiblity. Tedford was paid 1. 8 million in California. He must have been able to sign for significant dollars as an NFL offensive coordinator.

I didn't believe we could attract this kind of candidate, financially or otherwise. I would be thrilled if it really happened but right now I still find it difficult to think its more than just a rumour.

Yes. Way beyond expectations. As I indicated, and BCFAN also commented, he has had a health issue, with his heart. Does he recall the CFL in a certain way, and see it as perhaps a downsizing in his career? Less money, less stress. Possible, I guess.

Of course Wally and the Lions organization would lean towards Jeff Tedford, and a call is made. We don't know what level of interest he might have in the position. We don't know if Tedford is leaning towrds us.

As much as I would be thrilled if we could land a Head Coach with his background, it seems very little has taken place to this time. So we hear.

[cromartie]

Let's not underestimate the Marc Trestman career path. Sometimes, as a stepping stone to a larger job you have to take a bit of a step back monetarily to take on more responsibility in an effort to move up the NFL ladder. Does anyone thing Corey Chamblin didn't take the Riders job as a stepping stone to larger things? Kent Austin used that job to get the Ole Miss job and the HC job at Cornell.

So someone with his bona fides is not necessarily out of the question, despite the likely step back in pay.

As for the heart issues, don't you just walk in, swap out your heart for a spare and keep right on trucking in the Canadian Health Care System?

[Hambone]

From Arash Madani:

Per #CFL sources: #BCLions leaning toward hiring Jeff Tedford as head coach. Former Cal coach/CFL QB worked with Buono in Calgary in 90s.

Another one of Buono's cronies

Tedford's initial coaching job was as an offensive assistant with Calgary for 3 seasons, 1989 thru 1991. So it's been 23 years since these cronies worked together. Football networking being what it is if having worked with someone in the past makes a person a cronie and cronies should not be considered that would eliminate 49 names. It was interesting to see how some of these guys cross paths again over the year. For instance Ritchie, Cortez, McMann and Buono were all assistants in 1985 under Joe Galat in Montreal. Buono would work again together with the other 3 at varying times in Calgary and/or BC.
While Wally was GM and/or HC:
Mike Benevides
Mark Washington
Khari Jones
Chuck McMann
Dan Dorazio
Carl Hairston
Johnny Holland
Joe Paopao
Kelly Bates
Jarious Jackson
Jacques Chapdelaine
Rich Stubler
Travis Moore
Randy Melvin
Barron Miles
Mike Roach
Stef Kruck
Dave Ritchie
Jamie Barresi
Paul Arslanian
Dickie Harris
Steve Buratto
Jim Daley
Craig Dickenson
George Cortez
Bob Vespaziani
Tony Marciano
Danny Barrett
Frank Spaziani
John Hufnagel
Tom Higgins
Don Sutherin
Jeff Tedford
Bob Swift
Bill Bradley

Plus while Wally was an assistant:
Lary Kuharich (HC)
John Helton
Fred Biletnikoff
Max McCartney
MacArthur Lane
Ron Smeltzer
Dan Daniel
Gary Durchik (HC)
Joe Faragelli (HC)
Doug Sams
Stan McGarvey
Joe Galat (HC)
Jacques Dussault
Tom Rossley

The above don't include folks like Dave Dickenson and others who played for Buono but hasn't coached under him. Another interesting thing I noticed in gathering this info is how much coaching staffs have changed. Back in the 80s & 90s it was common to have only 5 assistants. Now teams typically have 8 and as many as 10.

[WestCoastJoe]

Great list, Hambone. Thanks for digging that out.

Even more extensive than one would have expected.

[Blitz]

TEDFORD RELEASED FROM CONTRACT - TAMPY BAY

“Throughout these difficult circumstances, our primary concern was for Jeff’s health and well-being,” said Buccaneers Head Coach Lovie Smith. “After speaking with Jeff in recent days, it became obvious that a mutual decision to release him from his contract was the best way forward. We wish Jeff continued success in the next phase of his career.”

Statement from Jeff Tedford:
"My wife and I want to thank the entire Buccaneers organization – from the Glazer family, to Head Coach Lovie Smith and General Manager Jason Licht – for all the faith and confidence they expressed in me. I will always be grateful to them for the opportunity to participate in the off season program, the draft, free agency, training camp, the preseason and the beginning of the regular season. I have built friendships here with administration, coaches and players that will last a lifetime.

“When my health issues arose, I simply tried to ignore them and then I made the mistake of twice trying to come back too early. At that point, the organization proposed, and I agreed, that an indefinite leave of absence would allow me the proper amount of time to rest and rehabilitate myself. I am happy to state that I’m healthy now and feeling great.

“The Buccaneers have been very accommodating to me and my family during this time and, while they left the door open for a possible return, I feel that coming back at this point would disrupt the trust and continuity that builds throughout the season in offensive meeting rooms and on the sidelines. Quarterbacks Coach Marcus Arroyo, along with the rest of the offensive staff, had to step up and shoulder the load and they have done a great job under very difficult circumstances. I simply could not, in good conscience, become more of an obstacle to Lovie, to Marcus, the offensive staff and the whole organization – after all they have done for me. You just can't go backwards. I can see that they are so close to turning the corner and I don't want to hinder that progress.

“Therefore, I have decided – with the organization's blessing – that it would be best if the Bucs moved forward without my return and I, now healthy and stronger for having gone through this temporary setback, will pursue other opportunities.

I would also like to express my deep gratitude to all of the Bucs fans who expressed their support, best wishes, and prayers for me during this season. I wish the entire Bucs organization and fan base great success and there will always be a very special place in my heart for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "