Philadelphia Eagles: An In-Depth Look at Howard Mudd

As we all know, with Juan Castillo moving to the defensive side of the ball, Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid was able to go out and secure one of the most respected offensive line coaches ever to pace the sidelines. 

Offensive line coaching isn't exactly one of those positions in the spotlight. They rarely get to talk on camera, nobody says what a great job they've done when the team wins and I don't believe that Fathead has any offensive line coaches on their giant wall graphics.

However, when the quarterback is under pressure and the blitz is working, they are under pressure to get the big guys up front to do a better job.

Playing Career

Howard Mudd played seven seasons in the NFL as an offensive guard.  He spent time with the San Fransisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears from 1964-70, retiring early due to a knee injury.

Mudd was a three-time Pro Bowler in 1966, 1967 and 1968.  Mudd was a two-time All-Pro and was on the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.

Coaching

Soon after retiring, Howard began coaching.  After spending two years at the University of California, Mudd moved to the NFL, coaching for the Chargers, 49ers, Seahawks, Browns and Chiefs.   Perhaps most memorable for fans is Mudd's time spent with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-2009. 

During his 12 years in Indianapolis, the Colts have allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL, with just 218 sacks in 182 games.  For 11 of those years, Peyton Manning was behind the line.  Not known for his keen mobility, Peyton credits much of his success to the protection he's received from Mudd's front line.

Controversy

Soon after the Spygate controversy in New England, former Cowboys and Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson appeared on the Mike and Mad Dog radio show and opined that what the Patriots did, while violating the rules, is commonplace.

Johnson went on to say, Howard Mudd, the Colts' offensive line coach, "was the best in the entire league at stealing signals."

Retirement

Due to some changes in the league pension plan policies, Mudd filed for retirement in 2009.  Shortly after retiring, Mudd returned to the Colt's as a "coaching consultant." Mudd also served as a consultant for a short time for the New Orleans Saints.

Philadelphia

Mudd now joins the Philadelphia Eagles, an organization that has struggled to protect its quarterback and get solid play from the offensive line.  Mudd joins his long-time friend, defensive line coach Jim Washburn in Eagles green.

Pairing one of the most respected offensive line coaches with one of the best defensive line coaches in the NFL gives Eagles fans a glimmer of hope for their high-powered offense and a much needed improvement on defense.