HEADLINES

Micheal Spurlock

NFL Coaching Updates: Vikings, Packers, Colts

March 4th, 2023 at 11:47am CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings made two additions to their coaching staff this week, adding assistants on both the defense and special teams. The additions help head coach Kevin O’Connell fill a few holes that were vacant due to recent departures.

Former assistant defensive line coach A’Lique Terry departed to join Dan Lanning‘s second-year staff at Oregon. Terry will coach the Ducks’ offensive line, a position group he worked with as a graduate assistant in 2019-20. Replacing Terry as assistant defensive line coach will be Patrick Hill, according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports. After serving as an analyst at LSU, Hill had recently joined Deion Sanders‘s inaugural staff at Colorado as the defensive tackles coach. Instead, Hill will make his way to the NFL.

The Vikings also needed to replace assistant special teams coach Ben Kotwica who left to become Sean Payton‘s new special teams coordinator in Denver. Replacing Kotwica will reportedly be former special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach at Southern Illinois Dalmin Gibson., according to Charean Williams of NBC Sports. Gibson’s role as assistant special teams coach will be his first NFL job after college gigs at Dickinson State, Wayne State, Colorado, and Michigan State.

Here are a few more coaching updates from around the league:

  • The Packers will be losing a member of their coaching staff to the college ranks next season. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, special teams quality control coach Micheal Spurlock will be departing for a role as wide receivers coach at Western Kentucky. Spurlock, a former NFL wide receiver, has now coached two separate seasons in the NFL, spending the rest of his coaching experience at the high school, community college, and NCAA level. The Packers don’t have an immediate need to replace Spurlock, as they still retain a special teams coordinator and assistant special teams coach, but that decision will likely fall to head coach Matt LaFleur.
  • New Colts head coach Shane Steichen is looking to round out his first NFL coaching staff. It appears that, in order to do so, Steichen will dip into the college coaching ranks as he is expected to hire Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Mason, according to Josh Alper of NBC Sports. No position has been specified for Mason, and it will be interesting to see what Steichen has in mind. Indianapolis does currently have its special teams coordinator role vacant, but Mason has never held an NFL coaching position. Mason had gone from a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2016 to director of recruiting at Cincinnati in 2017 before becoming the Bearcats’ special teams coordinator. Last year was his first as a coordinator for the Fighting Irish, and now he’ll make his way to his first NFL job. It’s hard to see Mason immediately earning a coordinator position for his first NFL role, but with the position open, it’s certainly a possibility.

NFC Coaching Notes: 49ers, Lions, Saints, Packers

March 26th, 2022 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Earlier this month, the 49ers announced a bundle of coaching hires and title changes. Head coach Kyle Shanahan informed the public of title changes for Chris Foerster (adding run game coordinator to his title of offensive line coach), Klay Kubiak (defensive quality control to assistant quarterbacks coach), and Bobby Slowik (offensive passing game specialist to offensive passing game coordinator).

Additionally, San Francisco announced the hires of James Cregg and Joe Graves as assistant offensive line coaches, Asauni Rufus and Deuce Schwartz as offensive quality control coaches, and Brian Schneider as special teams coordinator.

Here are a few other coaching notes from around the NFC starting with a note from the Motor City:

  • After seeing a good amount of shuffling in his defensive staff, Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell hinted at one last hire as the NFL Combine concluded earlier this month. The eventual hire of Lamar University defensive line coach Cameron Davis as the Lions’ new assistant defensive line coach was announced by the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches.
  • The Saints’ new head coach Dennis Allen announced some new hires to his coaching staff earlier this month. After taking a year off from coaching last year, longtime NFL wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell is joining New Orleans as a senior offensive assistant. Former journeyman cornerback Sterling Moore spent last season with the Saints as a defensive intern and has earned the position of defensive assistant. Joining Dr. Matt Rhea, who was hired away from the University of Alabama as the Saints’ director of sports science, the Saints also poached the Crimson Tide’s assistant strength and conditioning coach Matt Clapp to serve as their strength coach.
  • Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reported a couple of title changes and coaching hires for Matt LaFleur‘s staff in Green Bay. Defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery added the title of running game coordinator to his billing. Former assistant defensive backs coach Ryan Downard was promoted to safeties coach. Quinshon Odom joins the Packers as a coaching assistant (minority fellowship) after stints as a graduate assistant coach as Eastern Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and the University of Texas. Former journeyman wide receiver and special teamer Micheal Spurlock adds a ninth team to his list, joining Green Bay as a special teams quality control coach after some time assistant coaching in the college ranks.

Bears Re-Sign Eben Britton

September 9th, 2014 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

3:20pm: The Bears have confirmed they’ve re-signed Britton, cutting wide receiver and special-teamer Micheal Spurlock to make room on the roster (Twitter link).

2:07pm: After some Week 1 injuries to their offensive line, the Bears are expected to bring back veteran offensive lineman Eben Britton, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). The team had originally released Britton during its cutdown to 53 players at the end of August.

Britton, who spent the first four season of his NFL career with the Jaguars, saw 239 offensive snaps for the Bears in 2013, primarily at right guard. While the sample size was limited, Britton recorded a respectable +4.1 grade according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). The club re-signed the 26-year-old back in April, but he was unable to earn a spot on the Week 1 roster.

The Bears are in need of some veteran line depth after a Week 1 contest in which both center Roberto Garza and guard Matt Slauson suffered ankle injuries. It’s not clear yet how much time either player will miss, but the recoveries could take multiple weeks in both cases.

Bears Sign Spurlock, Edwards; Cut Hixon

June 3rd, 2014 at 2:49pm CST by Luke Adams

2:49pm: The Bears have officially confirmed the signings of Spurlock and Edwards (Twitter link). To clear room on the roster, the club has waived linebacker Tana Patrick and terminated Hixon’s contract with an injury settlement.

2:28pm: The Bears have two of the top receivers in the game in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, but may not have a ton of reliable contributors behind that duo on the depth chart. The team parted ways with Devin Hester and Earl Bennett this offseason, and newly-acquired free agent WR Domenik Hixon tore his ACL during OTAs. Given the need for additional depth at the position, the Bears will bring aboard a pair of receivers, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link), who reports that Micheal Spurlock and Armanti Edwards are signing with the club.

Spurlock, 31, has played for the Cardinals, Buccaneers, Niners, Jaguars, Chargers, Cowboys, and Lions since entering the league in 2006. The veteran wideout didn’t catch a pass during the 2013 season, but returned 22 punts and 15 kicks for Detroit. Spurlock had his most productive season as a receiver in 2012, when he split time between Jacksonville and San Diego, hauling in 23 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown for the year.

As for Edwards, the former third-round pick played quarterback at Appalachian State but has been used more frequently as a receiver and wildcat weapon when he’s seen the field in the NFL. In parts of four seasons with the Panthers and Browns, Edwards has compiled just six receptions for 131 yards.

Spurlock and Edwards both figure to compete for spots on the Bears’ regular-season roster.