Eagles' Mudd Ready To Retire Again
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles' Mudd Ready To Retire Again
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
If Andy Reid wants another NFL head-coaching job after the Eagles let him go later this month, he’ll have no trouble finding one. Wherever he winds up, though, he’s going to need a new offensive line coach.
Howard Mudd acknowledged to the Daily News Thursday what most people had already suspected – he’s calling it quits after the season.
``I decided quite a while ago,’’ the 71-year-old Mudd said. ``I gotta go be a grandpa. That was the plan two years ago and Andy talked me out of it. But this time, it’s going to be permanent.
``I told my wife last night, I really like coaching. But it’s time.’’
Mudd is one of the league’s best offensive line coaches. He’s been coaching NFL offensive lines for 37 years. Spent 12 years with the Colts before retiring after the ’09 season.
Reid coaxed him out retirement last year after making the controversial decision to switch Juan Castillo from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator.
The offensive line was one of the Eagles’ biggest concerns at the start of the ’11 season. By the end of the year, it was one of their greatest strengths.
Injuries wreaked havoc with Mudd’s unit this season. He lost All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters to a ruptured Achilles tendon last spring. Center Jason Kelce tore his ACL in Week 2 and right tackle Todd Herremans suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 9. Right guard Danny Watkins also was out for more than a month with an ankle injury.
Is he glad he came back?
``Oh yeah,’’ Mudd said. ``It’s all about the people. The players you coach. The coaches you work with. The owner. But it’s time.’’
Since you can't fire Lurie everyone under him SEE YA !— d1955h- He was gone at years' end anyway. Now the more important question, not the head coach, but the person who will choose the head coach. Jaws is the man for the job in my opinion. HIREJAWSFIRST is a facebook page where you can show support for this idea. If you agree, stop by and give it a "like". Thanks!— bentlip
- Maybe Reid will hire Castillo as his next O line coach.— Bartleby
- strength at the end of last season!?!?!? yeah right— psualum
- What do you mean "To" retire again??? He was retired during training camp. He didnt even show up until everything was pretty much installed. The Eagles basically payed him to not be there to teach his techiques and it shows. All of the Qb's are beat up and basically ineffective because none of the guys he picked out are talented enough and he himself wasnt there to teach tihs. He retired this year actually. The hell is he talking about?— Zeru
- Howard's boys were doing just fine about this time last year, once Watkins and Kelce got the hang of his system. It's not his fault his two best players were on IR two games into the season, and two more were done by the bye. Or that the FO thought Demetress Bell could actually play. That said, he knows Reid's days are numbered, hence so are his. Fare thee well, ye ole coot.— JBirks
- If any of the coaches are offered a job to stay with the Birds,I hope it's Duce. I think he has what it takes to coach up the RB's and I'd hate to see him go...one of our all time,top effort guy's on the field.— greenbloodVAEagle
- Mudd should have remained retired. This Coach was blessed by having Peyton Manning as his QB for all those years at Indy. Manning made Mudd look like a good OLine Coach. Vick, on the other hand, made him look average. Throw in the trash that Howie and Andy gave him as Draft choices (Watkins) and he is a terrible Coach! Can't wait to see the entire coaching staff and "Accountant GM" removed!— cooperhawk
- fire rosebud! he stinks!— sore richard
- Thank God!— Atomic Fury
- His last name says it all and you can apply that to the entire team, coaching staff and owner.— fanup
- Are the Eagles going to give him a parting gift like a tie w/ a bowl of soup or something? Get da fugg outta here Howard— glove69
- I doubt many offensive line coaches could do any better with the players he was left with after the injuries.— bc3030
- @greenblood...If Duce were any good at coaching the RBs would not be fumbling so much. Nobody has done a good enough job to stay, clean sweep and let the new GM and head coach start from scratch.— Paul SoTX
- Duce has nothing to do with coaching the RBs. That's the job of Ted Williams. Duce is in charge of Special Teams Quality Control and Jim Washburn is the Defensive Line Coach. Mike Zordich is the Secondary/Safeties Coach.
— essell
