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Falcons nab Louisville's Petrino for head coach slot
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino has accepted a five-year, $24 million offer from the Atlanta Falcons to become their new coach.
"Bobby Petrino did a great job here at Louisville," Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. "I'm proud of what he accomplished. I just wish we could have kept him longer. He will do a great job for the Falcons."
ESPN.com's Pat Forde first reported the hiring and contract details earlier Sunday night.
Petrino met with his Louisville players Sunday night to let them know he was going to Atlanta. The Falcons scheduled a formal announcement for Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
Petrino said he was leaving for what "I truly feel is the best job in the National Football League."
"I am excited about the challenge that awaits me in Atlanta, and I'm equally excited about the potential that I see in this team. I look forward to getting to know the players," he said in a Falcons statement.
"This is an exciting day for the Atlanta Falcons franchise," Falcons owner and CEO Arthur Blank said in the Atlanta release. "Bobby Petrino is an extremely talented football coach who has done some tremendously innovative things as both an offensive coordinator and head coach, and he brings to us a record of success at the collegiate and professional levels. There is no question that he has a sharp mind, he is demanding and disciplined, and he is a motivator and developer of players. In short, he's a difference maker who will bring a strong identity to the Falcons -- one our team will buy into and take on as their own."
The Cardinals were trying to come to terms with their coach's departure.
"I'm in shock right now," Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody told ESPN's Joe Schad Sunday night. "We're coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn't think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He's a great coach and we're going to miss him."
Before the season, Petrino signed a 10-year, $25 million contract. Petrino had previously interviewed with Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame and the Oakland Raiders for other jobs, but announced in August that he would be at Louisville for the long haul.
Louisville had just completed a 12-1 season, climaxed by their first BCS bowl victory, over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. Petrino's record was 41-9 at Louisville, as he elevated the program into an annual national contender.
The leading candidate to replace Petrino figures to be Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe, who has taken the Golden Hurricane to three bowl games in four years after taking over one of the worst programs in the country.
The Falcons moved quickly to replace Jim Mora, who was fired just two years after leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game. The Falcons missed the playoffs the past two years and posted a 7-9 mark this season.
Petrino's previous NFL experience includes three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including two seasons as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 2001. He then moved back to the college ranks, taking over as Auburn's offensive coordinator in 2002 before heading to Louisville.
"Nobody thought this would happen, but nobody's complaining about it," Cardinals defensive lineman Earl Heyman said. "You can't fault him considering what he's done for this program."
Petrino led the Cardinals to the Conference USA title in 2004, their final year in that league. Louisville claimed its first BCS appearance this season by winning the Big East.
Petrino's name repeatedly came up for other coaching vacancies, including an embarrassing episode in which Auburn set up a clandestine interview while Tommy Tuberville was still the Tigers' coach.
Louisville twice renegotiated Petrino's contract, giving him hefty raises in hopes of keeping him.
The Falcons spent the past several days interviewing NFL assistants, including Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary.
But Blank, who was aided in the search by general manager Rich McKay, decided to go with an established head coach instead of following the same course he did in 2004.
Mora was the 49ers' defensive coordinator when he was hired by the Falcons, and he got off to a rousing start. Atlanta won the NFC South and came up one win short of the Super Bowl, losing at Philadelphia for the conference title.
After a 6-2 start the following year, the Falcons lost six of their last eight games to miss the playoffs and keep alive the franchise's streak of never having two straight winning seasons.
Atlanta followed a similar path this year, starting out 5-2 before losing seven of nine -- including its last four home games.
That didn't go over well with Blank, who has spent lavishly to build a perennial playoff contender. The hands-on owner also was bothered by several off-the-field incidents, most notably a radio interview late this season in which Mora said his dream job was to coach at the University of Washington, his alma mater.
Mora said he was only kidding, but had to apologize after being summoned to Blank's office.
Petrino announced his decision to the Cardinals during a five-minute meeting at the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex in Louisville. Nearly the entire team was in attendance, including junior quarterback Brian Brohm, as well as most of the assistant coaching staff.
Petrino's departure casts considerable doubt over whether Brohm or running back Michael Bush will return next fall.
Brohm, who passed for 308 yards in the Orange Bowl, could be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the draft if he decides to go pro. Neither Bush, who applied for a medical redshirt after breaking his right leg in a season-opening win over Kentucky, nor Brohm were made available to the media following the meeting.
"I'll never forget my time as a member of the Cardinals family," Petrino said.
Source: ESPN.com
"Bobby Petrino did a great job here at Louisville," Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. "I'm proud of what he accomplished. I just wish we could have kept him longer. He will do a great job for the Falcons."
ESPN.com's Pat Forde first reported the hiring and contract details earlier Sunday night.
Petrino met with his Louisville players Sunday night to let them know he was going to Atlanta. The Falcons scheduled a formal announcement for Monday at 2 p.m. ET.
Petrino said he was leaving for what "I truly feel is the best job in the National Football League."
"I am excited about the challenge that awaits me in Atlanta, and I'm equally excited about the potential that I see in this team. I look forward to getting to know the players," he said in a Falcons statement.
"This is an exciting day for the Atlanta Falcons franchise," Falcons owner and CEO Arthur Blank said in the Atlanta release. "Bobby Petrino is an extremely talented football coach who has done some tremendously innovative things as both an offensive coordinator and head coach, and he brings to us a record of success at the collegiate and professional levels. There is no question that he has a sharp mind, he is demanding and disciplined, and he is a motivator and developer of players. In short, he's a difference maker who will bring a strong identity to the Falcons -- one our team will buy into and take on as their own."
The Cardinals were trying to come to terms with their coach's departure.
"I'm in shock right now," Louisville kicker Arthur Carmody told ESPN's Joe Schad Sunday night. "We're coming off a great Orange Bowl win and we were all thinking national championship. I didn't think this would happen. He said he enjoyed college football. He's a great coach and we're going to miss him."
Before the season, Petrino signed a 10-year, $25 million contract. Petrino had previously interviewed with Auburn, LSU, Notre Dame and the Oakland Raiders for other jobs, but announced in August that he would be at Louisville for the long haul.
Louisville had just completed a 12-1 season, climaxed by their first BCS bowl victory, over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. Petrino's record was 41-9 at Louisville, as he elevated the program into an annual national contender.
The leading candidate to replace Petrino figures to be Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe, who has taken the Golden Hurricane to three bowl games in four years after taking over one of the worst programs in the country.
The Falcons moved quickly to replace Jim Mora, who was fired just two years after leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game. The Falcons missed the playoffs the past two years and posted a 7-9 mark this season.
Petrino's previous NFL experience includes three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including two seasons as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in 2001. He then moved back to the college ranks, taking over as Auburn's offensive coordinator in 2002 before heading to Louisville.
"Nobody thought this would happen, but nobody's complaining about it," Cardinals defensive lineman Earl Heyman said. "You can't fault him considering what he's done for this program."
Petrino led the Cardinals to the Conference USA title in 2004, their final year in that league. Louisville claimed its first BCS appearance this season by winning the Big East.
Petrino's name repeatedly came up for other coaching vacancies, including an embarrassing episode in which Auburn set up a clandestine interview while Tommy Tuberville was still the Tigers' coach.
Louisville twice renegotiated Petrino's contract, giving him hefty raises in hopes of keeping him.
The Falcons spent the past several days interviewing NFL assistants, including Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary.
But Blank, who was aided in the search by general manager Rich McKay, decided to go with an established head coach instead of following the same course he did in 2004.
Mora was the 49ers' defensive coordinator when he was hired by the Falcons, and he got off to a rousing start. Atlanta won the NFC South and came up one win short of the Super Bowl, losing at Philadelphia for the conference title.
After a 6-2 start the following year, the Falcons lost six of their last eight games to miss the playoffs and keep alive the franchise's streak of never having two straight winning seasons.
Atlanta followed a similar path this year, starting out 5-2 before losing seven of nine -- including its last four home games.
That didn't go over well with Blank, who has spent lavishly to build a perennial playoff contender. The hands-on owner also was bothered by several off-the-field incidents, most notably a radio interview late this season in which Mora said his dream job was to coach at the University of Washington, his alma mater.
Mora said he was only kidding, but had to apologize after being summoned to Blank's office.
Petrino announced his decision to the Cardinals during a five-minute meeting at the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex in Louisville. Nearly the entire team was in attendance, including junior quarterback Brian Brohm, as well as most of the assistant coaching staff.
Petrino's departure casts considerable doubt over whether Brohm or running back Michael Bush will return next fall.
Brohm, who passed for 308 yards in the Orange Bowl, could be one of the top quarterbacks taken in the draft if he decides to go pro. Neither Bush, who applied for a medical redshirt after breaking his right leg in a season-opening win over Kentucky, nor Brohm were made available to the media following the meeting.
"I'll never forget my time as a member of the Cardinals family," Petrino said.
Source: ESPN.com