Ken Zampese

Last updated

Ken Zampese
Ken Zampese (cropped).jpg
Zampese with the Washington Football Team in 2020
Atlanta Falcons
Position:Senior offensive assistant
Personal information
Born: (1967-07-19) July 19, 1967 (age 57)
Career information
High school: San Diego (CA) University
College: San Diego (1985-1988)
Career history
As a coach:
Coaching stats at PFR

Kenneth Zampese (born July 19, 1967) is an American football coach who is a senior offensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Zampese began his coaching career at the University of San Diego, his alma mater, and has held a variety of college and NFL coaching positions. He is the son of former NFL coach Ernie Zampese.

Contents

Family background

Zampese's father, Ernie Zampese, spent 36 years as a coach in the NFL with the New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, and both the Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Rams. [1] Ernie Zampese is known best for his role on the Chargers' offensive coaching staff in the 1970s and 1980s, when he helped engineer the famed Air Coryell offense. The offense is still considered one of the best passing offenses in NFL history—featured Hall of Famers Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner and Kellen Winslow, along with John Jefferson and Wes Chandler. These dynamic players operated in a scheme that led the league in passing yards an NFL-record six consecutive seasons (1978–1983).

Zampese attended the University of San Diego from 1985 to 1988, where he played on the football team as a wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner. He was also a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. [2]

Career

Early coaching

Zampese began his NFL coaching career in 1998 as an offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles under head coach Ray Rhodes. In 1999, Rhodes became head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and Zampese followed. He again worked as offensive assistant, mentored by quarterbacks coach Mike McCarthy. Packer quarterbacks of that era were Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks.

St. Louis Rams

Zampese joined the St. Louis Rams in 2000 as an offensive assistant under head coach Mike Martz. He was promoted the following season to WRs coach, and again the next season to WRs coach/passing game coordinator. During his stint in St. Louis, Zampese assisted Martz with the passing game of what became known as "The Greatest Show on Turf" – a nickname for the Rams' high-powered, record-setting offense. It was here that he gained additional exposure to the "3-Digit" passing system, pioneered by his father and expanded to new heights under Martz.

Quarterback Kurt Warner (and backups Trent Green and Marc Bulger), Hall of Fame RB Marshall Faulk, and WRs Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl made up what is widely considered the most prolific offense in NFL history.

Although "The Greatest Show on Turf" began its record-setting run a year prior to Zampese's arrival in St. Louis – the 1999 Super Bowl XXXIV Rams' Super Bowl championship season – it lasted three seasons (1999–2001), and he was with the Rams for the final two seasons of the run (2000–01).

Cincinnati Bengals

Zampese joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003 as quarterbacks coach at a time when the team was searching for a quarterback to lead the franchise. He aided in the scouting and evaluation of the quarterbacks in the 2003 NFL draft, as the team used its No. 1 overall pick to select 2002 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer of Southern California. On September 15, 2017, Zampese was fired by the Bengals after the team started the season 0–2 and did not score a single touchdown. [3]

Cleveland Browns

On January 12, 2018, Zampese was hired by the Cleveland Browns as quarterbacks coach, reuniting him with Browns head coach and former Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. [4] After the 2018 season, during which Jackson was fired, he was not retained by new head coach Freddie Kitchens. [5]

Atlanta Legends

In the 2019 AAF season, the Atlanta Legends were plagued by various offensive coaching resignations, including head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Michael Vick before the season, and quarterbacks coach/play caller Richard Bartel after three games. [6] Zampese was hired by the Legends starting with the fourth game against the Arizona Hotshots. [7]

Washington Football Team / Commanders

In 2020, Zampese joined the Washington Football Team as their quarterbacks coach. [8] In 2023, Zampese was given a senior offensive advisor/game management role. [9] He was not retained following the firing of Ron Rivera and hiring of new head coach Dan Quinn.

Atlanta Falcons

Zampese was hired as a senior offensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. [10]

Related Research Articles

The West Coast offense is an offense in American football that places a greater emphasis on passing than on running.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tice</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Michael Peter Tice is a former American football tight end and coach. He played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park and spent 11 seasons playing in the National Football League (NFL) before spending 22 seasons as a coach, including four seasons as the Minnesota Vikings head coach.

Michael Martz is an American football coach. Best known for his coaching tenure with the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL), he served as the offensive coordinator for the Rams' Greatest Show on Turf offense in 1999 that led the franchise to its first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXIV. Martz subsequently served as the head coach of the Rams from 2000 to 2005, where his teams reached the playoffs four times, won two division titles, and achieved a franchise-best 14–2 record in 2001 en route to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Ragone</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

David Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former quarterback who currently serves as quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and also served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.

Ernest Eugene Zampese was an American professional football coach in the National Football League (NFL). Playing for Santa Barbara High School, he was selected as the CIF Player of the Year in 1953 and went on to play at the halfback position for the USC Trojans in 1955 and 1956. Between 1962 and 1975, he was a college football coach at Allan Hancock Junior College (1962–1965), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (1966), and San Diego State University (1967–1975).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Robiskie</span> American football player and coach (born 1954)

Terrance Joseph Robiskie is a former American football coach and player. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

William Scott Musgrave is an American football coach and former player who is the senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former quarterback, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for multiple NFL teams. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, earning all-conference honors in the Pac-10. He is also the uncle of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.

Brian Cornelius Schottenheimer is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and the University of Georgia and also served as an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Robert Bratkowski is a former American football coach. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Zeke Bratkowski. Bratkowski played his college football for Washington State, as a wide receiver from 1975 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam Cameron</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Malcolm "Cam" Cameron is an American football coach. He is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the LSU Tigers football program. Cameron attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and played quarterback for the school. Cameron began his coaching career in the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines. After that he switched to the National Football League (NFL), where he was offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and the San Diego Chargers and head coach for the Miami Dolphins, coaching them to a 1–15 record in his only season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hue Jackson</span> American football coach (born 1965)

Hue Jackson is an American football coach who was most recently the head football coach at Grambling State University until November 2023. An offensive assistant at both the collegiate and professional levels, he held coordinator positions in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins in 2003, the Atlanta Falcons in 2007, the Oakland Raiders in 2010, and the Cincinnati Bengals from 2014 to 2015. He also served as the head coach of the Raiders in 2011 and Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018. Jackson compiled a 3–36–1 record with the Browns, including a winless season in 2017, which is the worst record among coaches who presided over an NFL team for at least 40 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Lazor</span> American football player and coach (born 1972)

William V. Lazor is an American football coach who is the senior offensive assistant for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Lazor has previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles. He is also the former offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and Chicago Bears. He played college football as a quarterback for Cornell University from 1991 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Gruden</span> American football coach and player (born 1967)

Jay Michael Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He previously served as the head coach of the Washington Redskins from 2014 to 2019 and as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars. During his time in the Arena Football League (AFL), he won four ArenaBowls as a player and two more as a head coach. Gruden is the younger brother of former NFL head coach Jon Gruden and was an assistant coach of the 2002 Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl XXXVII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raheem Morris</span> American football coach (born 1976)

Raheem Morris is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011 and interim head coach of the Falcons in 2020. Morris also was an assistant coach for the Kansas State Wildcats, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Coryell</span> American football offense with a greater emphasis on passing than on running

In American football, Air Coryell is the offensive scheme and philosophy developed by former San Diego Chargers coach Don Coryell. The offensive philosophy has been also called the "Coryell offense" or the "vertical offense".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Robinson</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Zachary Ross Robinson is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played quarterback at Oklahoma State and was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Cincinnati Bengals before retiring in 2013. Robinson became a coach in 2019, serving as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt LaFleur</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Matthew Patrick LaFleur is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He has served as the quarterback coach of the Washington Redskins, Notre Dame, and the Atlanta Falcons and has been the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Legends</span> Alliance of American Football team

The Atlanta Legends were a professional American football franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the eight members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), which played one season from February 2019 to April 2019. They played their home games at Georgia State Stadium on the campus of Georgia State University. The Legends were one of two AAF teams based in a city that already had an NFL team. The Legends were coached by Kevin Coyle, one of two AAF coaches without prior head coaching experience, after the position became available when Brad Childress resigned a month before the season began. Billy Devaney was the general manager.

Wes Phillips is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of former Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints head coach Bum Phillips.

Tim Berbenich is an American football coach who is currently pass game specialist/game management for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).

References

  1. ↑ "Innovative former NFL OC Ernie Zampese dies at age 86". ESPN.com . Associated Press. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022– via Reuters.
  2. ↑ Smith, Andrew (Winter 2002). "Sigma Pi on the Gridiron" (PDF). The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 88, no. 1. pp. 4, 26–27.
  3. ↑ Patra, Kevin (September 15, 2017). "Bengals fire offensive coordinator Ken Zampese". National Football League . Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  4. ↑ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 12, 2018). "Browns hiring Ken Zampese as quarterbacks coach in reunion with Hue Jackson". The Plain Dealer . Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  5. ↑ Clark, Dave (January 9, 2019). "Report: Ken Zampese won't be part of Freddie Kitchens' Cleveland Browns staff". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  6. ↑ Crabtree, Curtis (February 25, 2019). "Atlanta AAF team loses another offensive coach as Rich Bartel resigns". Profootballtalk.com . Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  7. ↑ Perloff, Andrew [@andrewperloff] (March 3, 2019). "Interesting @TheAAF note... former Bengals OC, Browns QBs coach Ken Zampese came aboard to run offense for @AafLegends this week and helped QB Aaron Murray lead them win tonight. Zampese was with Andy Dalton for long time and Baker Mayfield last year" (Tweet). Retrieved March 3, 2019– via Twitter.
  8. ↑ "Redskins Announce Coaching Staff". Redskins.com. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  9. ↑ Washington Commanders Public Relations (February 28, 2023). "Commanders announce staff changes". Commanders.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ Williams, Charean (February 3, 2024). "Falcons announce six more assistants, including Tim Berbenich, Ken Zampese". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.