Times Leader
First Posted:
Trestman looking forward to working with Cutler
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Marc Trestman says he has one of the best jobs in sports now that he’s the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Trestman emphasized at his introductory news conference Thursday the urgency to win now. He also says he can’t wait to get my hands on quarterback Jay Cutler. Trestman was hired Wednesday to replace the fired Lovie Smith after the Bears missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons. He spent the past five years as the head coach of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, winning two championships, and was a longtime NFL assistant.
Seahawks’ Bradley new head coach
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley as head coach.
The 46-year-old Bradley is part of Jacksonville’s rebuilding project directed by general manager David Caldwell.
ESPN first reported the hire Thursday.
Bradley spent the last four seasons in Seattle, where his defense improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two. This season, the Seahawks ranked first in the NFL in points allowed (15.3), fourth in yards (306.2) and tied for fourth in takeaways (31).
The Jaguars were 30th in the league in total defense in 2012.
Bradley began his NFL coaching career with Tampa Bay as a defensive quality control coach in 2006. He was the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach the next two seasons before going to Seattle.
Turner will run offense
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns named Norv Turner their new offensive coordinator on Thursday.
Turner, fired by the Chargers as head coach earlier this month, led San Diego to a 59-43 record in six years with three division titles. He also was head coach of the Washington Redskins (1994-2000) and Oakland Raiders (2004-05).
New Cleveland coach Rob Chudzinski says he expects Turner to make a big impact on that side of the ball, and the Browns can use the help. Cleveland went 5-11 last year and scored just 302 points in coach Pat Shurmur’s final season. Cleveland also added Mike Sullivan (offensive line), Scott Turner (wide receivers) and Brad Roll (strength) to the staff, and retained Chris Tabor (special teams) and George Warhop (offensive line) from last year.
Arians lands in Arizona
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have filled the NFL’s final head coaching vacancy by hiring Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
The team confirmed the hiring in a release Thursday night.
The 60-year-old longtime assistant went 9-3 as Colts interim head coach while Chuck Pagono was undergoing treatment for leukemia last season.
Arians arrived in Arizona on Wednesday night, had dinner with top team officials, then interviewed on Thursday and met with reporters to indicate his interest in the job. He was offered and accepted the job Thursday night. Arians also was a finalist for the Chicago job that went to Marc Trestman.
Arians was the sixth known candidate interviewed to replace Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after six seasons.
