The Green Bay Packers have had many legendary coaches in their history. Team co-founder Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi are both deservedly in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and are considered among the greatest coaches of all time. But in 1992, the Packers may have put together the greatest coaching staff in NFL history with a group of assistant coaches that went on to become head coaches in their own right. Here is a look back at the 1992 Green Bay Packers coaching staff.
The Packers Best Coaching Staff in NFL History: The Head Coach
The Packers first-year head coach in 1992 was Mike Holmgren. He previously served as the offensive coordinator in San Francisco and won two Super Bowl rings during his tenure there.
He led the Packers to a 9-7 record that first season and finished his tenure in Green Bay with a 75-37-0 record in his eight seasons with the team.
Holmgren led the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI and they won another NFC title the following season.
After leaving Green Bay, Holmgren led the Seattle Seahawks to another Super Bowl appearance in 2005.
Holmgren remains one of only seven coaches in NFL history to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl.
The Defense Coordinator
Ray Rhodes served as Holmgren’s defensive coordinator in 1992 after serving as defensive backs coach in San Francisco.
Rhodes became the head coach of the Eagles in 1995 and earned NFL Coach of the Year honors after leading the Eagles to the playoffs after a 1-3 start. He also led them to the postseason in 1996.
In 1999, Rhodes took over as head coach of the Packers after Holmgren’s departure. The Packers finished 8-8 that season and missed the playoffs. He was dismissed after the season was over.
As an assistant coach, Rhodes won five Super Bowls. He was also the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 1993 when he helped the Packers and Reggie White finish with the league’s second-best defense by yards allowed per game.
The Packers Best Coaching Staff in NFL History: The Quarterbacks Coach
The Packers quarterbacks coach in 1992 was Steve Mariucci who had served as the offensive coordinator at Cal the previous two seasons.
Mariucci got to work extensively with Brett Favre, who GM Ron Wolf had just acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons during the previous offseason. “Mooch” and Holmgren helped polish Favre’s game and developed him from a raw gun slinger to an NFL MVP.
Mariucci later became the head coach of the 49ers and led them to the playoffs four times in six seasons including a trip to the 1997 NFC Championship Game where he lost to the Packers. He was later also head coach of the Detroit Lions for three seasons.
The Defensive Backs Coach
The Packers defensive backs coach in 1992 was Dick Jauron. He was originally hired by Forrest Gregg in 1986 and remained as DB coach under Lindy Infante and Holmgren. He stayed with the Pack for eight seasons, departing to become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator in 1995.
Jauron later became head coach of the Bears and Bills and was interim head coach of the Lions. He was named AP Head Coach of the Year in 2001 after leading Chicago to a 13-3 record and the NFC North title.
The Packers Best Coaching Staff in NFL History: Special Offensive Assistant/WR Coach
Jon Gruden became the Packers wide receivers coach in 1992 at the age of 28. Gruden had worked with Holmgren in San Francisco in 1990 before joining the staff at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991.
“Chucky” spent three years with the Packers and got to work with Sterling Sharpe and company during his tenure in Green Bay.
After leaving the Packers, Gruden became head coach of the Raiders and later the Bucs. He led the Raiders to the playoffs in 2000 and 2001 and then took over as head coach in Tampa Bay. In 2002, he coached the Bucs to their first Super Bowl win, beating his former team in the process.
Gruden won 117 regular-season games as an NFL head coach and led his teams to the playoffs five times.
Tight Ends Coach
The Packers tight ends coach in 1992 had no previous NFL coaching experience but went on to become a great head coach. His name was Andy Reid. Reid had previously served as an offensive line coach for several college programs, most recently Missouri.
He remained with the Packers through 1998 and became the quarterbacks coach for the final two seasons of his tenure.
After leaving Green Bay, Reid became the head coach of the Eagles for 13 seasons before taking over the same job for the Chiefs in 2013.
Reid has won four Super Bowls as a coach, one as an assistant with the Packers in 1996, and three with the Chiefs.
He has won 258 games as a head coach and has a career winning percentage of .641. Reid has led his teams to the playoffs 19 times in his 25-year career as an NFL head coach. He is considered an offensive innovator and will almost certainly be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible.
The 1992 Packers featured five future head coaches on their staff in addition to Holmgren who eventually led them to a Super Bowl. In the modern NFL, this group is likely the most talented coaching staff in league history.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Click here for more great Packers coverage
