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INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich announced today that Howard Mudd, who returned to the Colts coach earlier this year as the offensive assistant coach, decided to retire from his position.
"He decided to withdraw on his own terms," said Reich. "Just over the last week, he had told me that he thought his time was coming and that it was fine, on your own terms, to be able to do it. And he did his job, with what we asked him to do. He was ready to withdraw and go forward, so we thank him for his contribution. "
After a legendary career of more than four decades as a player and coach, Mudd retired from the NFL after spending the 2012 season as a Philadelphia Eagles coach.
But earlier this year, after a long phone conversation with Reich, who was planning to hire a friend of Mudd, Chris Strausser, to become the new coach of the team's offensive line, the Colts decided to To offer Mudd the opportunity to return to their team. senior offensive assistant. He officially returned on February 7, meeting Reich, with whom he had coached Indy staff from 2006 to 2009.
"It was unbelievable for me, because much of what I learned in running and in the world of protection goes back to my first time with Howard," said Reich. "So, I was able to convince him to come out of retirement so that he could help us make the transition."
Mudd has spent more than six months helping Strausser and his new assistant offensive line coach, Klayton Adams, prepare for the Colts offensive line for the 2019 season. Indy in 2019 returns the five staters from last year's lineage – left tackle Anthony Castonzo, left-hand guard Quenton Nelson, center Ryan Kelly, right-hand guard Mark Glowinski and right tackle Braden Smith – who allowed the least bags of the NFL (18).
Reich said that there had never been a specific timeline for Mudd 's most recent coaching job at Indy, but that he was pleased with the progress made in the past year. approach of the season.
"It was a little" Hey, come back, help us. Make sure it fits your expectations (and what you think) at this stage of your career and your life, "said Reich about Mudd." And one thing about Howard is that he was complete, he was great in all respects, he had a lot of energy, passion, a lot of knowledge – a lot of experience in these meetings It was a lot of fun for our guys, especially our youngest guys , to have the chance to rub Howard. "
In many ways, Mudd certainly deserves to be considered for his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame, both as a player and as an assistant coach.
Mudd was a ninth round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1964 NFL draft and quickly became one of the best offensive linemen of his era. A member of the NFL's last ten years in the 1960s – and a member of the Golden Age 49ers (1946-1970) – Mudd was a three-time Pro Bowl (1966- 1968) and was named first all-Pro team in 1968. Mudd also played for the Chicago Bears from 1969 to 1971.
After an eight-year career in the game, Mudd entered the ranks of coaches as an offensive line coach at the University of California in 1972, after spending two years at school. He was hired by the San Diego Chargers in 1974, beginning a decades-long career as one of the greatest offensive line coaches in the history of the NFL.
Mudd was a staff member of the Chargers (1974-1976), 49ers (1977), Seattle Seahawks (1978-1982, 1993-1997), Cleveland Browns (1983-1988), Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1992) and Eagles 2011-12), but he is perhaps best known for his work with the Colts offensive line from 1998 to 2009.
During this time, Mudd was a member of the Colts Super Bowl XLI Champion Team and was instrumental in protecting the future Hall of Fame Peyton Manning, one of the league's least-licensed quarterbacks. when Mudd posted as coach of the offensive line of Indy.
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