Marc

Trestman

Trestman most recently served as the head coach and general manager of the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in 2020. He is most famous for his two-year stint as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. His team finished second in the league in points during his first year in Chicago but failed to make the playoffs. They then bottomed out in his second season with the Bears and he was fired with a 13-19 record as a head coach. John Harbaugh would tab him as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Baltimore failed to crack the top 20 in scoring in either campaign. Jim Harbaugh is unsurprisingly getting plenty of coaches with connections to him or his brother on LA’s staff and Trestman is just the latest of the bunch. He will join OC Greg Roman for an offensive brain trust that can only be described as underwhelming.

The Raiders join the Browns and Jaguars as clubs interested in Trestman. All three teams have second-year quarterbacks for 2015, but Trestman reportedly “absolutely loves” Derek Carr. Trestman was the Raiders’ offensive play-caller from 2001-2003. He and Adam Gase have been linked to the Raiders.

Trestman was asked to keep much of the offense Gary Kubiak installed in Baltimore when he took the job last season, and he admitted the transition was a struggle. “It’s a little unnatural when you come in, and there is a pre-existing offense in place,” Trestman said. “It was a very good offense, as we all know. But I spent three months on it, trying to make sure that I simulated the things that were necessary for me to do my job.” Now in his second year, Trestman has a full grasp of the offense and will be able to make changes where he sees fit. With injured playmakers like Joe Flacco (knee) and Steve Smith Sr. (Achilles’) coming back, the offense could take a step forward this year.

Former Eagles and Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg will take over the play-calling duties. Running an offense Joe Flacco publically questioned last week, Trestman might have sealed his fate by abandoning a running game which was averaging 6.2 yards per carry in favor of a passing attack which averaged 4.6 yards per attempt in a close loss to the Redskins on Sunday. Mornhinweg will likely be tasked with getting and keeping the running game going as well as playing to Joe Flacco’s strengths by pushing the ball down the field. Following a promising first season in Chicago, Trestman’s NFL stock has fallen dramatically in the last three seasons.

Trestman was hired by the Bears in 2013 and spent two seasons at the helm in Chicago before getting canned and landing with the Ravens as OC for 1.5 years before being fired by Baltimore last October. Trestman was rumored to be a candidate for the Rams’ OC job this offseason, but nothing materialized. Trestman coached the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes from 2008-2012.

Consider us a bit skeptical. Trestman is a proven coordinator who seems unlikely to accept a role as a glorified QBs coach behind Sean McVay, but this would be a great move for the Rams. Trestman coaxed shockingly good seasons out of Jay Cutler and Josh McCown in Chicago, and he would be a good coach to have on hand as McVay tries to develop 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. Trestman’s offensive coordinator in Chicago, Aaron Kromer, is also reportedly on the Rams’ radar.

We haven’t seen any credible reports linking Trestman to a team since he was fired by the Bears Monday. But we’d love to see the Bucs and Lovie Smith take a long, hard look. Trestman coaxed a career year out of McCown in 2013 and could do some serious damage with the likes of potential No. 1 overall pick Marcus Mariota, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

The move comes one week after the Florida Times Union pegged Trestman as a name to watch in the hunt to replace Jedd Fisch. Trestman has reportedly “become close” with coach Gus Bradley, though fellow interviewee Greg Roman has longtime ties with GM David Caldwell. Trestman has already interviewed for the same job in Tampa. He’d be a coup for either team.

Trestman has also interviewed with the Jaguars and Bucs. Tampa Bay has already tabbed Dirk Koetter to run its offense, and it is unclear how seriously the Jaguars are interested in Trestman. Though he struggled somewhat as a head coach, Trestman has all the makings of an excellent coordinator. The Browns will also interview 49ers OC Greg Roman, Raiders offensive assistant Al Saunders, and Raiders QB coach John DeFilippo for the position.

Per Bernstein, GM Phil Emery’s fate remains “undecided.” Trestman was an exciting coaching prospect after a promising rookie year, but his offense has gone in the tank while his defense has completely gone off the rails. His offensive coordinator was caught serving as an anonymous source ripping quarterback Jay Cutler. Perhaps Trestman’s fate would be different were Cutler playing better, but it’s hard to see him getting a third year in the Windy City.