Rob Chudzinski enters his second year with the Indianapolis Colts and first as associate head coach. He served as special assistant to the head coach in 2014. Chudzinski provides input on both sides of the ball along with assisting Head Coach Chuck Pagano. He also helps with game management and handles special projects. Chudzinski holds 21 years of coaching experience, including the previous 11 seasons in the NFL.
Chudzinski’s relationship with Pagano dates back to the University of Miami in 1986. Pagano was a graduate assistant during Chudzinski’s freshman year at the school. The two then coached the Hurricanes together from 1995-2000 prior to a stint with the Cleveland Browns in 2004.
In 2014, Chudzinski helped the Colts to their third consecutive 11-win season and second straight AFC South title. The team recorded a perfect 6-0 division record for the second straight year, marking the first time in franchise history they’ve accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons. Indianapolis also won two postseason contests and reached the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2009. Chudzinski assisted an offense that ranked first in the NFL in passing (305.9 ypg.) and passing touchdowns (42). The Colts ranked third in the league in total offense (406.6 ypg.), which was a 12-spot improvement from a No. 15 ranking in 2013 and ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring (28.6 ppg.), which was an eight-spot jump from the previous season. Defensively, Indianapolis improved in all three categories including total defense, rushing defense and passing defense.
In 2013, Chudzinski served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland finished 18th in the NFL in total offense and 11th in passing yards, marking the highest ranking for the team dating back to 1991. The Browns also finished ninth in total defense, which was the highest ranking since 1994. Cleveland recorded 40.0 sacks as a team and tied for the league lead with 16 total players with a sack.
Chudzinski developed six Pro Bowlers and five Associated Press All-Pro selections in Cleveland including, TE-Jordan Cameron, WR-Josh Gordon, CB-Joe Haden, C-Alex Mack, T-Joe Thomas and S-T.J. Ward. Four of those players, including Cameron, Gordon, Haden and Ward were first-time Pro Bowl selections. Gordon became the first Browns player to lead the NFL in receiving yards (1,646). He played in just 14 games and also recorded the 10th-most receiving yards in a season in NFL history. Cameron posted career highs with 80 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns. His receiving yards ranked second among NFL tight ends in 2013, while his receptions total ranked third.
Prior to joining the Browns, Chudzinski spent two years (2011-12) as offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. In 2011, the team set club records for total yards (6,237) and first downs (345), one year after experiencing franchise lows in both categories. Carolina scored 48 touchdowns overall after recording 17 the year before his arrival. Chudzinski tutored quarterback Cam Newton, who became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards, while setting an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14 en route to being named the 2011 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Panthers also became the first team in NFL history with three 700-yard rushers in DeAngelo Williams (836), Jonathan Stewart (761) and Newton (706).
Chudzinski had two stints with the San Diego Chargers, where he served as the assistant head coach/tight ends from 2009-2010 and tight ends coach from 2005-06. He coached tight end Antonio Gates, who recorded both of his 1,000-yard receiving seasons under Chudzinski in 2005 and 2009.
From 2007-08, Chudzinski served as offensive coordinator of the Browns. In 2007, Cleveland scored 402 points and tallied 5,621 yards of total offense, both of which ranked as the third-most in franchise history. In addition, the team tied for seventh in the NFL in touchdowns and eighth in total offense after finishing 30th and 31st, respectively, the year prior.
Chudzinski began his NFL coaching career in 2004 as the Browns tight ends coach, where he worked with first-round draft choice Kellen Winslow. During the season, he was elevated to offensive coordinator for the final five games following Butch Davis’ resignation as head coach.
From 1994-2003, Chudzinski coached at his alma mater, the University of Miami (Fla.). He spent two seasons (1994-95) as a graduate assistant, five (1996-2000) as tight ends coach and three (2001-03) as offensive coordinator. During his three seasons as offensive coordinator, the Hurricanes compiled a record of 35-3 and played in a BCS Bowl Game every year, including two National Championship appearances. Chudzinski helped shape several future NFL Pro Bowlers, including Bubba Franks, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, Willis McGahee, Bryant McKinnie, Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow.
Chudzinski played tight end at Miami from 1986-1990, as he was a three-year starter and a member of two national championship teams (1987 and 1989). He graduated with a B.A. in business administration in 1990 and went on to earn his MBA in 1996.
Chudzinski was inducted into the 2015 University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame. His class was comprised of two-time Olympic medalist Lauryn Williams as well as football stars Jonathan Vilma, Kevin Patrick, Rusty Medearis, Winston Moss and the late Sean Taylor among others.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Chudzinski and his wife, Sheila, have three sons, Kaelan, Rian and Declan, and one daughter, Margaret.
I give up...can't reason with retards.
You've yet to explain what makes him stand out. What is it about him that makes you think he would be such a great hire?
