Chris Palmer (American football)

Chris Palmer
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Senior offensive assistant
Team Buffalo Bills
Biographical details
Born (1949-09-23) September 23, 1949
Brewster, New York
Alma mater Southern Connecticut State
Playing career
1969–1971 Southern Connecticut State
Position(s) Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1972 Connecticut (DL)
1973–1974 Connecticut (WR)
1975 Lehigh (WR)
1976–1982 Colgate (OC)
1983 Montreal Concordes (OL)
1984 New Jersey Generals (WR)
1985 New Jersey Generals (OC/QB)
1986–1987 New Haven
1988–1989 Boston University
1990–1992 Houston Oilers (WR)
1993–1995 New England Patriots (WR)
1996 New England Patriots (QB)
1997–1998 Jacksonville Jaguars (OC)
1999–2000 Cleveland Browns
2002–2005 Houston Texans (OC)
2006 Dallas Cowboys (QB)
2007–2009 New York Giants (QB)
2010 Hartford Colonials
2011–2012 Tennessee Titans (OC)
2014 San Francisco 49ers (offensive assistant)
2015–present Buffalo Bills (senior offensive assistant)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2010 Hartford Colonials (GM)
Head coaching record
Overall 24–18 (college)
8–32 (professional)

Statistics

Chris Palmer (born September 23, 1949) is an American football coach. He is currently the senior offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Palmer served as the head coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2000 and in the same capacity with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League (UFL) in 2010. He was the head football coach at the University of New Haven from 1986 to 1987 and at Boston University from 1988 to 1989. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills of the NFL.

High school and college

Palmer played high school football at Immaculate High School a small Catholic high school located in Danbury, Connecticut. After high school he attended and played college football at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Palmer played quarterback for Southern Connecticut State from 1968 to 1971. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees at SCSU, where he was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame at New Haven and Immaculate High School.

After graduation from Southern Connecticut State University, Palmer coached under Larry Naviaux at the University of Connecticut. While at Connecticut, Palmer also devoted his time to help develop sports talent, as quoted by Jeff Naviaux "Chris helped me learn the importance of a team". Palmer coached the freshman defensive line in 1972 and the varsity wide receivers in 1973 and 1974. In 1975, he became the wide receivers coach at Lehigh University. The following year, Palmer was named the offensive coordinator at Colgate University, where he stayed for seven years. In 1977, the Red Raiders led the nation in total offense with an average of 486 yards a game.

Prior to entering the NFL, Palmer was a college football coach. He was the head coach at Boston University in 1988 and 1989 and at the University of New Haven in 1986 and 1987, when the Chargers posted consecutive 8–2 records.

Professional

Initial professional coaching experience

Palmer’s first professional coaching experience came in 1983, when he was the offensive line coach for the Montreal Concordes in the Canadian Football League. The following year, he coached the wide receivers for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals. In 1985, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. That year, Palmer’s offense featured quarterback Doug Flutie and running back Herschel Walker, who rushed for 2,411 yards.

Houston Oilers

Palmer’s first NFL coaching experience was as the Houston Oilers wide receivers coach from 1990 to 1992 when Kevin Gilbride was the Houston offensive coordinator. During those three seasons, the Run ‘N Shoot Oilers had the NFL’s most productive passing attack. Four Houston wide receivers—Curtis Duncan, Ernest Givens (twice), Drew Hill and Haywood Jeffires (twice)—made the Pro Bowl while being coached by Palmer.

New England Patriots

Palmer first worked under Bill Parcells as the New England Patriots wide receivers coach from 1993 to 1995. In 1996, he became the quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Drew Bledsoe as they advanced to Super Bowl XXXI.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Following Super Bowl XXXI, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, spending the 1997-98 seasons as offensive coordinator under head coach Tom Coughlin.

Cleveland Browns

Palmer became the head coach of the reborn Cleveland Browns for the 1999-2000 seasons, the first two for the "new" Browns after the original team had moved to Baltimore. With a roster full of inexperienced players and cast-offs from other franchises, Palmer struggled to get the team competitive, especially on offense. Palmer was fired after posting a 5–27 record in two seasons, and was succeeded by former University of Miami coach Butch Davis. During his tenure in Cleveland, he starred as himself on an episode of The Drew Carey Show, which took place in Cleveland.

Houston Texans

In 2002, he became the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans under head coach Dom Capers. He remained with Houston until he was fired in Week 2 of the 2005 NFL season as a result of Houston's lackluster offense.

Dallas Cowboys

In January 2006, several months after his firing from Houston, Palmer was hired by the Dallas Cowboys to be the quarterbacks coach. He was reunited with head coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe with whom he had worked during his days with the New England Patriots.

New York Giants

In January 2007, Palmer was hired by the New York Giants as their new quarterbacks coach, reuniting with the team's head coach, Tom Coughlin, with whom he had worked in Jacksonville.[1][2]

On January 29, 2010 Palmer announced his retirement.[3]

Hartford Colonials

Following his retirement from the NFL, Palmer was named as the head coach and general manager of the United Football League's Hartford Colonials.[4]

Tennessee Titans

On February 15, 2011, the Tennessee Titans named Palmer as the new offensive coordinator, which was previously held by Mike Heimerdinger. Under Palmer during the 2011 season the Titans scored 325 points (20.3/g), 21st of 32 in the NFL. On November 26, 2012, Palmer was fired by the team midway through the season, and replaced by quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains.

San Francisco 49ers

During the 2014 season, the San Francisco 49ers had Palmer as an offensive assistant. 2014 was the inaugural season playing their home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. At the end of the season, the 49ers released Greg Roman, offensive coordinator, and ultimately Palmer as well.

Buffalo Bills

Palmer followed Roman to Buffalo, and is serving as an offensive assistant on Rex Ryan's staff.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
New Haven Chargers (NCAA Division II independent) (1986–1987)
1986 New Haven 8–2
1987 New Haven 8–2
New Haven: 16–4
Boston University Terriers (Yankee Conference) (1988–1989)
1988 Boston University 4–7 3–5 T–7th
1989 Boston University 4–7 4–4 6th
Boston University: 8–14 7–9
Total: 24–18

Professional

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CLE1999 2140.1256th in AFC Central - - - -
CLE2000 3130.1886th in AFC Central - - - -
CLE Total5270.156--- -
HAR2010 350.3754th in UFL - - - -
HAR Total350.375--- -
Total8320.200--- -

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Palmer has served:

Assistant coaches under Palmer who became NFL head coaches:

References

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Kevin Gilbride		 Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Coordinator
1997–1999 		Succeeded by
Tom Coughlin
(simultaneously serving as head coach)
Preceded by
none		 Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator
2002–2005 		Succeeded by
Joe Pendry (interim)
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