Whether it was his decision or the rest of the league’s is unclear, but former Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell was conspicuously out of football in 2009. Haskell has an impressive and lengthy track record in coaching, so we’re assuming he simply took the year off at age 66.
Either way, it appears Haskell will resurface under new Browns club president Mike Holmgren. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Haskell is expected to be appointed as an adviser to Holmgren in the Browns’ front office.
He and Holmgren are close pals. They worked together for 15 of Holmgren’s 17 years in NFL coaching, including all of Holmgren’s eight years as Seahawks head coach. Haskell and Holmgren made Super Bowl appearances together with Seattle in 2005, and Green Bay in 1996 and 1997.
Per the Plain Dealer, Haskell will have “major input” regarding the Browns’ offseason decision making on the offensive side of the football. It will be interesting to see if Haskell pushes Holmgren to pursue Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck via offseason trade. Hasselbeck, well versed in the system Holmgren and Haskell emphasize, figures to be available at the right price.
