Coaches

Linehan begins his fourth season as the Lions offensive coordinator after joining the club in 2009. He is now entering his 11th season as an NFL coach, going on 23 years of coaching experience.

LIONS COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: Last season, Detroit’s offense established new franchise standards while breaking team records in total yards (6,337), yards per game (396.1) and net passing yards (4,814). The Lions finished fifth in the NFL in total offense and fourth in passing offense.

• The team’s fifth overall ranking in total offense in 2011 was the Lions highest since it finished second in the NFL in 1997. By ranking fourth in passing offense, it is the highest for the team since it was second in the NFL in 1995.
• The Lions 474 points scored during the 2011 regular season are the most in team history, breaking the team record (436) set in 1995.
• Linehan’s work with QB Matthew Stafford began to show dividends in 2011 as he set franchise passing records for yards (5,038), touchdowns (41), completions (421) and attempts (663). Stafford also established the team’s all-time best single-season completion percentage (63.5) and passer rating (97.2). Based on NFL qualifier of minimum 244 attempts.
• Stafford’s numbers also ranked among the best in NFL history: 4th quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season; 5th most yards (5,038); 7th most touchdowns (41); 5th most completions (421) and 3rd most attempts (663).
• Stafford was one of three NFL quarterbacks, along with Saints QB Drew Brees and Patriots QB Tom Brady, to finish 2011 in the top five of all six major passing categories: 3rd in yards (5,038); 3rd in touchdown passes (41); 5th in quarterback rating (97.2): 5th in completion-percentage (63.5); 1st in attempts (663); 2nd in completions (421).
• In 2010, the Lions were one of just seven teams to improve at least nine positions in total offense from 2009, as they went from 26th to 17th. In the passing game, they were one of just three teams to improve their ranking by nine spots (21 in 2009 to 12 in 2010).
• Detroit had the third-most improved scoring offense in the NFL, scoring 100 more points than they did in 2009, which accounted for an average of 6.3 more points per game.
• The Lions had the fourth-most improved offense in the NFL in 2010, gaining 639 more yards than they did in 2009 (39.9 more yards per game).
• The Detroit offense was the third-most improved unit in Red Zone touchdowns with 12 more touchdowns in 2010 than 2009. That equates to a 17.2 percent difference, which made the Lions’ offense the second-most improved unit in Red Zone touchdown percentage as well.
• Detroit had the fifth-highest increase of Red Zone possessions in the League. The Lions had 45 red zone possessions in 2010 compared to 36 in 2009.

In 2009, his first season directing the Lions offense, Linehan focused on implementing a versatile offensive attack along with the maturation of the team’s young, talented offensive playmakers.

Working directly with the team’s quarterbacks, Linehan was instrumental in the growth of rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, who became one of the youngest players to ever start the season at quarterback in the NFL. Stafford steadily progressed with each outing until injuries slowed him down towards the end of the year. Stafford finished the season ranking near the top of almost every franchise rookie passing record, including first in touchdown passes (13) and second in yards (2,267), completions (201) and completion percentage (54.1) despite starting only 10 games.

Linehan joined the Lions coaching staff after spending three seasons (2006-08) as the head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

As a first-time NFL head coach, Linehan quickly put his stamp on the Rams in 2006 via the ground game, giving the ball to RB Steven Jackson 346 times in 2006 – the most by a St. Louis player in 20 seasons. Jackson finished the year with 1,528 rushing yards (3rd, NFC), 105 first downs (1st, NFC) and 2,334 all-purpose yards (1st, NFL), earning his first-career Pro Bowl appearance. Jackson averaged 21.0 carries per game over Linehan’s three-year span with the Rams compared with 16.9 carries per game in 2005 and established himself as one of the NFL’s big running threats.

Other Rams saw career bests under Linehan. QB Marc Bulger passed for a career-best 4,301 yards in 2006, setting franchise records with a 1.4 interception percentage and 588 passing attempts. His 370 completions for 24 touchdowns were also second in Rams’ history. That season, WR Torry Holt and WR Isaac Bruce finished with 1,188 and 1,098 yards, respectively, combining for 167 pass receptions.

In addition to his three seasons as an NFL head coach, Linehan brings four years of league experience as an offensive coordinator. He spent the 2005 season with the Miami Dolphins, improving the team’s total offense from 4,960 yards (29th, NFL) in 2004 to 5,198 yards (14th, NFL) in 2005 and bettering the run game from 402 rush attempts (31st, NFL) in 2004 to 444 (12th, NFL) in 2005.

That year, the Dolphins’ two primary running backs – Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams – combined for 1,650 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. WR Chris Chambers earned his first-career Pro Bowl appearance under Linehan, finishing with 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns, marking his only 1,000-yard season.

Linehan broke into the league as an offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 2002, helping the franchise to some of its best offensive seasons to date, ranking second, first and fourth from 2002-04. During his tenure, the Vikings compiled a franchise-best 36 consecutive games of 300-yards-or-more of total offense (2002-04) and, in 2004, compiled a franchise-best five games of 400-yards-or more of total offense.

In Vikings history, his offenses also rank first and second in total yards (6,339 yards, 2004; 6,294 yards, 2003), first and second in first downs (351, 2004; 350, 2002), second and third in touchdowns (51, 2003; 50, 2004), second in points (416, 2003), first in passing first downs (225, 2004), first in rushing touchdowns (26, 2002) and second and third in rushing yards (2,507 yards, 2002; 2,343 yards, 2003).

Minnesota’s top offensive players had some of their best years under Linehan, including QB Daunte Culpepper and WR Randy Moss, who each had career years while he was with the Vikings. Moss became the team’s featured ‘big man’ in 2002 after the departure of WR Cris Carter, starting 45 games over that span and garnering two Pro Bowl selections (2002, 2003) under Linehan.

Moss finished with 106 catches for 1,347 yards and seven touchdowns in 2002 while his 111 receptions for 1,632 yards in 2003 remain personal bests. He also tied a career high in 2003 with 17 touchdowns, a personal best he held until he brought in 23 in 2007 with New England. Culpepper also had some of his best seasons with Linehan calling the plays, including a career year in 2004. That year, his second Pro Bowl season, Culpepper finished with a passer rating of 110.9 for the fourth-highest in NFL history and his 69.2 completion percentage (379-of-548), league-leading 4,717 passing yards, 8.6 yards per play average and 39 touchdowns still mark career bests.

Linehan was able to effectively utilize the Culpepper-Moss tandem over his three seasons with the Vikings, bettering the team’s total points to 390, 416 and 405, respectively, after Minnesota scored 290 points in 2001. He maintained the team’s solid performance through the air, as the offense ranked 9th, 4th and 2nd, respectively, throughout his three seasons.

But even with the dynamic passing game, Linehan also made significant improvements to the team’s running game. Prior to his arrival in 2001, the Vikings finished 25th in the league with 376 rushing plays for 1,609 yards (4.3 average). In 2002, Linehan helped the Vikings to the league’s top ground game, finishing with 473 rushing plays for 2,507 yards (5.3 average).

That year, Minnesota’s running game was led by Michael Bennett, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2002 season. He finished the year 11th in the NFL in rushing with a career-best 1,296 yards – his only 1,000-yard performance to date – on 255 attempts. In 2003, Linehan utilized a trio of runners – Moe Williams, Onterio Smith and Bennett – to finish third in the league in rushing with 493 rushing plays for 2,343 attempts.

Linehan coached collegiately for 13 years on teams that played in seven bowl games and won five conference titles: one Pac-10, two Conference USA and two Big Sky. Five of Linehan’s quarterbacks were drafted by NFL teams: Louisville’s Chris Redman and Dave Ragone, Washington’s Brock Huard and Marques Tuiasosopo and Idaho’s Doug Nussmeier.

He was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Louisville from 1999-2001, coaching the team to three bowl games and becoming the first Conference USA team to win consecutive league championships. A Louisville quarterback earned Conference USA Player of the Year honors in each of Linehan’s three seasons.

Prior to his time in Louisville, Linehan spent five years at the University of Washington (1994-98), advancing to four bowl games and winning the 1995 Pac-10 title. He also spent four total seasons at Idaho, his alma mater, as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (1992-93) and as the wide receivers coach (1989-90) and Linehan spent one season at Nevada-Las Vegas (1991) as the quarterbacks coach. While a coordinator with Idaho in 1993, the Vandals led the nation in scoring (47.5 points per game) and total offense (532 yards per game).

Linehan was a quarterback for Dennis Erickson’s Idaho Vandals from 1982-86, winning the Big Sky Championship in 1985 and earning Division I-AA playoff appearances in three straight seasons (1984-86). He signed as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987, but a shoulder injury ended his playing career.

Born in Sunnyside, Wash., Linehan and his wife, Kristen, have three sons: Matthew, Michael and Marcus.

LINEHAN’S BACKGROUND

Detroit Lions............................................................................... 2009-

Offensive Coordinator.................................................................. 2009-

St. Louis Rams....................................................................... 2006-08

Head Coach.............................................................................. 2006-08

Miami Dolphins............................................................................. 2005

Offensive Coordinator.................................................................... 2005

Minnesota Vikings.................................................................. 2002-04

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks....................................... 2002-04

Louisville............................................................................. 1999-2001

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks................................... 1999-2001

Washington............................................................................. 1994-98

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks............................................ 1998

Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers.................................... 1996-97

Wide Receivers........................................................................ 1994-95

Idaho........................................................................................ 1992-93

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks....................................... 1992-93

UNLV............................................................................................. 1991

Quarterbacks................................................................................. 1991

Idaho........................................................................................ 1989-90

Wide Receivers........................................................................ 1989-90