Brian Billick

"Billick" redirects here. For the German theologian, see Eberhard Billick. For the football coach nicknamed Billick, see John Whelchel.
Brian Billick

Billick wearing sunglasseds and a wide-brimmed straw hat with a Ravens logo on the hatband

Billick during 2007 training camp
Personal information
Date of birth: (1954-02-28) February 28, 1954
Place of birth: Fairborn, Ohio
Career information
High school: Redlands (CA)
College: Brigham Young
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season: 80–64 (.556)
Postseason: 5–3 (.625)
Career: 85–67 (.559)
Coaching stats at PFR

Brian Harold Billick[1] (born February 28, 1954) is a former National Football League coach and commentator. Billick spent nine seasons as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007; he led the Ravens to a 34–7 victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance. He was also the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings (1994–1998) when they broke the scoring record in the 1998 season.

Biography

Playing career

Billick, who played football and basketball at Redlands High School in Redlands, California, had his #17 jersey retired by the school in March 2001.[2] He played both quarterback and cornerback and holds the state record with 21 career interceptions.

After spending his freshman season as a linebacker at the United States Air Force Academy,[3] Billick transferred to Brigham Young University[4] and became a tight end. He later told friends that he left the Air Force Academy because he learned, after he'd already enrolled, that his height and size (6-foot-5, 230 lb.) precluded him from ever becoming a fighter pilot. He received All-Western Athletic Conference and honorable mention All-America honors in 1976.

Billick was selected in the 11th round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but was released by both the 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys that year and never played in the NFL.

Coaching career

College

In 1977, after being cut by the San Francisco 49ers, Billick returned to his hometown of Redlands, Calif., and served as a volunteer wide receivers coach for the University of Redlands football team (NAIA), under coach Frank Serrao. That season, he also split time as an assistant coach at Redlands High School. Billick said he coached the high school team's practice from 2 to 4 p.m., then headed over to the university for the college practice.[5]

Billick worked as a graduate assistant at Brigham Young for one season (1978) before joining the 49ers as the assistant director of public relations for two years (1979–1980).

He returned to coaching with San Diego State University, serving as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for five seasons (1981–1985). After being named the offensive coordinator of Utah State University, Billick improved the second-worst offense in Division I-A into a top-10 offense in three seasons (1986–1988).

Billick was then hired as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach at Stanford by Dennis Green, serving both roles for three seasons (1989–91).

National Football League

Assistant Coach

The Vikings made the playoffs during six of the seven seasons (1992–1998) that Billick spent with the team, and set several offensive records in the process. In 1998, Minnesota set an NFL record for most points scored in a season (556) (which has since been broken by the 2007 Patriots and the 2013 Broncos), and set a team record with 41 touchdown passes. His work under Minnesota head coach Dennis Green put Billick in the Bill Walsh coaching tree.

Baltimore Ravens

Billick became the second coach in Baltimore Ravens history on January 19, 1999, when he was hired to replace Ted Marchibroda. He had an 85–67 record in nine seasons (1999–2007) with the team, including 5–3 in the playoffs. He won a Super Bowl title.

Although Billick had the opportunity to interview for the head coaching job of the reactivated Cleveland Browns and was rumored to be their top candidate, he chose to interview with the Ravens first.[6] He signed with Baltimore in under 24 hours after his initial interview.

In his first season with the Ravens, Billick led the team to its first non-losing record (8–8) in the franchise's four-year history.

Billick (far right) and the rest of the 2000 Ravens meet U.S. president George W. Bush in 2001.
Billick and Gary Zauner in 2003.

The next season, the Ravens finished with a 12–4 record and earned their first playoff berth. Prior to reaching the playoffs, Billick forbade his players from using either the term "playoffs" or the term "Super Bowl," with the idea of keeping them focused on winning each game instead of on a more distant prize. Billick felt this approach would help them reach that goal, and went so far as to fine Tony Siragusa for violating the rule. In response, the players borrowed the term "Festivus" from the television series Seinfeld for the playoffs, and the term Festivus Maximus for the Super Bowl. When they reached the playoffs, Billick lifted this ban. The Ravens took advantage of their vaunted defense, which allowed an NFL record-low 165 points in the regular season (for a point differential of 168; the Ravens also led the league in turnover differential at +23) during the playoffs to advance to Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants. It was a blowout 34-7 victory, giving Billick his first and only Super Bowl.

Billick led the Ravens to a 10–6 record and a victory over the Miami Dolphins in a 2001 wild card playoff game before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round. Baltimore finished 7–9 and missed the playoffs in 2002, but bounced back in 2003 with a 10-6 record and the franchise's first division title; the key game of this season was a wild 44–41 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks in which the Ravens scored 20 unanswered points from the 10:14 mark of the fourth quarter through overtime; the win launched the then 5–5 Ravens into the division title. The Ravens lost to the Titans, 20–17, in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2004 (9–7) and 2005 (6–10) before bouncing back in the 2006 season. Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel on October 17, 2006, assuming the role for the remainder of the season, as the Ravens earned a franchise best 13–3 record, won the AFC North, and earned the first playoff bye in team history. Baltimore, however, lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, 15–6, in the divisional round. In 2007, the Ravens dramatically dropped to 5-11, which prompted team owner Steve Bisciotti to fire Billick. "The team has to move on," he said. He was replaced by John Harbaugh.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti described the decision to fire Billick as the toughest decision he has ever had to make. Billick, in a short statement, said Bisciotti did what he believed was best for the Ravens, and asserted that the two men are and will remain friends.[7]

Broadcasting career

When the Ravens were eliminated in the playoffs in 2003, Billick was used as a studio analyst by ABC Sports. After being fired by the Ravens, Billick became a draft analyst for the NFL Network during the 2008 NFL Draft. Billick then became a game analyst for the NFL on Fox during the 2008 NFL season,[8] working alongside Thom Brennaman. Billick returned with his NFL on Fox broadcasting partner Brennaman as a game analyst for the 2009 NFL Season.[9] On NFL Network, Billick can be seen alongside Dennis Green on The Coaches Show, as well as Sterling Sharpe and Brian Baldinger on Thursday and Friday editions of Playbook, the ultimate NFL “Xs and Os” program utilizing the same “all 22” game film that coaches and players use to preview upcoming games. He also serves as an analyst on NFL Network’s signature show NFL Total Access and has provided on location analysis for the Network’s coverage of the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft. He often appears on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning to discuss football matchups and news. Billick left Fox after the 2013 season.

Game show contestant

Shortly before beginning his coaching career, Billick appeared as a contestant on TV's Match Game PM in 1977, losing to Marla Marshall.[10] Panelist Richard Dawson remarked after Billick's loss: "Football: Failed. Game show: Failed."[11]

Head coaching record

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
WonLostTiesWin %Finish Won Lost Win % Result
BAL1999 880.5003rd in AFC Central - - - -
BAL2000 1240.7502nd in AFC Central401.000 Super Bowl XXXV Champions
BAL2001 1060.6252nd in AFC Central11.500Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Divisional Game
BAL2002 790.4383rd in AFC North - - - -
BAL2003 1060.6251st in AFC North01.000Lost to Tennessee Titans in AFC Wild Card Game
BAL2004 970.5632nd in AFC North - - - -
BAL2005 6100.3753rd in AFC North - - - -
BAL2006 1330.8131st in AFC North01.000Lost to Indianapolis Colts in AFC Divisional Game
BAL2007 5110.3134th in AFC North - - - -
BAL Total80640.55653.625
Total[12]80640.55653.625

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Brian Billick has served:

Assistant coaches under Brian Billick who became NFL head coaches:

References

  1. ↑ "Billick on Pro-Football-Reference". rbref.com. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  2. ↑ Brian Billick profile, Baltimore Ravens. Accessed October 18, 2007. "Billick earned 3 letters in both football and basketball at Redlands HS"
  3. ↑ "Brian Billick". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  4. ↑ "Three NFL head coaches linked by BYU, faith", URL retrieved 8 January 2007
  5. ↑ Billick, Brian, with MacCambridge, Michael. "More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL," Scribner, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Chris Palmer signs with Browns". The Cincinnati Post (Associated Press). E. W. Scripps Company. 1999-01-22. Archived from the original on 2004-03-30. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  7. ↑ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-billicksports0101,0,7748509.story "Billick fired" retrieved 04 January 2008
  8. ↑ "Former Ravens coach Billick to call plays for Fox as NFL game analyst - Baltimore Business Journal:".
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2009-10-21. ANALYST DAVIS, LYNCH & GREEN DEEPEN NFL ON FOX ROSTER, posted September 2, 2009, retrieved October 21, 2009
  10. ↑ Match Game PM #3-19
  11. ↑ "Match Game 73" Trivia, IMDB.com
  12. ↑ Brian Billick Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks - Pro-Football-Reference.com
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