Trojans Coaching in the NFL

Besides players, there are also a number of head coaches in the NFL with ties to USC. Out of 32 teams, seven are led by a man who either played or coached for the Trojans. We won't be recapping their results weekly, but let's take a quick read on how they're looking at the start of 2007:

Lane Kiffin - Last year's USC offensive coordinator took the helm in Oakland this season. His first game wasn't pretty, as the lowly Lions beat the even lowlier Raiders. Yes, lowlier is a word -- and very appropriate here. On a positive note, Kiffin's boys scored three touchdowns. They only found the end zone 12 times last season.

Jack Del Rio - Jack's been in Jacksonville since 2003. He took the team into the playoffs in 2005 with a 12-4 record, but was .500 last season and may be on the hot seat. An All American linebacker for the Trojans, he took home MVP honors in the 1985 Rose Bowl.

Norv Turner - Nine seasons coaching at USC (including a stint as offensive coordinator in 1984) prepped Turner for a long NFL career. He's starting his first year with the San Diego Chargers, who are looking good after going a league-best 14-2 last year under Marty Schottenheimer.

Jeff Fisher - After winning a national championship as a cornerback at USC, Fisher had his three-year NFL career cut short when he broke his leg on a tackle by Bill Cowher (who later coached Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl victory). Fisher holds the longest tenure of any NFL coach. He's been with the Tennessee Titans since 1996 -- back when they were still the Houston Oilers. They haven't made the playoffs since 2003, but did start off this year by beating Del Rio's Jaguars. Fisher hired former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow (both pictured on right) to handle the same duties for the Titans in 2005, and many think Chow will eventually be a head coach somewhere.

Rod Marinelli - Marinelli spent a year as USC's defensive line coach in 1995. He now leads the aforementioned lowly Lions, who beat Kiffin's Raiders on Sunday.

Mike Holmgren - Quaterbacking USC to a national championship helped set up Holmgren for a lifetime as an offensive guru. After coaching Green Bay to a Super Bowl win in 1996, he moved to Seattle, where he picked up career win 148 on Sunday.

Joe Gibbs - With three Super Bowl rings, 25+ years coaching in the NFL, and a NASCAR Championship team, most people don't associate Joe Gibbs with USC. He coached offensive line for the Trojans in 1969 and 1970.

Photo by Mark Humphrey / AP

Comments

[george]

picture of norm but no comment about him?

[Adam Rose]

Chow is mentioned in the Fisher paragraph.