GREEN BAY – The Packers have brought back their former offensive coordinator, Joe Philbin, to resume his duties in that role after a six-year absence from Green Bay.
Here is a brief rundown on the 56-year-old Philbin's return:
Long, successful previous stay
Take a look at coaches new to the Packers, as well as those with new roles. Photos by AP and Evan Siegle, packers.com.
In an extensive and well-traveled coaching career that has now included 11 different college or pro football teams, Philbin's longest previous stay in one place was in Green Bay from 2003-11. He coached both offensive linemen and tight ends under head coaches Mike Sherman and Mike McCarthy before becoming the Packers' offensive coordinator in 2007. In his five years in that role, Green Bay ranked in the top 10 in the league in total yards and points each year.
Record-setting season
In Philbin's final season as Green Bay's offensive coordinator, in 2011, the Packers set single-season franchise marks for points, total yards, touchdowns, passing touchdowns and fewest giveaways on their way to a 15-1 regular season.
Moving on
Philbin left Green Bay to become a head coach for the first time in his college or pro career, taking the reins for the Miami Dolphins for four seasons beginning in 2012. In his first three years, the Dolphins went 7-9, 8-8 and 8-8 again, missing the postseason by one game in 2013. Philbin was dismissed following a 1-3 start to the 2015 season, compiling a 24-28 overall record at Miami.
Modest beginnings
Philbin's rise all the way up the coaching ladder to NFL head coach was an impressive one, and it didn't happen overnight. He began as a graduate assistant at Tulane University in 1984, when he was working on a Master's degree in education. His next three stops were at Worcester Polytechnic, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and Allegheny College, where as an offensive coordinator for the first time he helped produce a national championship team in 1990.
Latest stop
Philbin spent the last two seasons as assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Indianapolis Colts, working under Chuck Pagano. The offensive line is where Philbin established his roots in the coaching business, having coached the position in some capacity at seven different college stops – the three mentioned above, plus Ohio, Northeastern, Harvard, and ultimately a four-year stint under Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa from 1999-2002 – before he entered the NFL with the Packers in 2003.
