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A 14-year NFL veteran as a player and coach, Bill Musgrave enters his second season as the Quarterbacks Coach for the Falcons. In 2006, Musgrave helped QB Michael Vick set several career, franchise and NFL records. In his initial season working with Vick, Musgrave saw Vick complete a career-high 20 touchdown passes and became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single-season. Vick threw three or more touchdowns on three separate occasions after having not completed more than two touchdown passes in a single-game prior to 2006. He also turned heads on the ground, rushing for over 100 yards in three games, including a 166-yard effort against the New Orleans Saints. In addition, Vick's 8.45 average yards per carry in a single-season established an NFL record.
In 2005, Musgrave enhanced his already strong coaching reputation by helping QB Mark Brunell pass for 3,050 yards with a career-high 23 touchdowns and a passer rating of 85.9 as he guided the Redskins to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons and a road victory over NFC South champion Tampa Bay. The 23 touchdowns were the most by a Redskins signal-caller since 1999.
As a quarterback, Musgrave's six-year pro career began as a fourth round draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1991-94, serving as a back-up to future Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young, while also learning his craft from the likes of coaches Mike Holmgren and Mike Shanahan. He was a member of the 49ers' Super Bowl XXIX (against the San Diego Chargers) winning team in 1994. Musgrave followed Shanahan to Denver to play behind another future Hall of Famer in QB John Elway from 1995-96.
Musgrave was hired by Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders to coach quarterbacks and work under Offensive Coordinator Ray Perkins in 1997. That year, QB Jeff George led the NFL with 3,919 yards passing and an AFC-best 29 touchdown passes. In 1998, the Indianapolis Colts signed him as an unrestricted free agent quarterback to work with then rookie QB Peyton Manning. After training camp with the Colts, he was hired to join the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Eagles and for the final 10 games of that '98 season, he served as the team's Offensive Coordinator. In 1999, the Carolina Panthers brought him in to be Quarterbacks Coach. Under Musgrave, QB Steve Beurlein enjoyed a Pro Bowl season, passing for nearly 4,500 yards and 36 touchdowns with Carolina boasting the No. 2 ranked passing offense and the No. 4 ranked scoring unit in the NFL. Following that season, Musgrave was promoted to Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach by the Panthers in 2000.
From 2001-02, Musgrave took his talents to the collegiate level and had a successful stint as the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Virginia, where his offense included future NFL players such as T D'Briskashaw Ferguson, TE Heath Miller, and QB Matt Schaub. By the end of the 2002 season, UVA had registered the school's first Bowl victory in nearly a decade as the offense shattered a multitude of conference records, resulting in head coach Al Groh being named 2002 ACC Coach of the Year. Musgrave also garnered the honor of "Best Coordinator" in the ACC by The Sporting News magazine for his work with the Cavaliers offense that year.
Musgrave then became a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching staff in 2003 under head coach Jack Del Rio as Offensive Coordinator. In QB Bryon Leftwich's rookie season, Musgrave's offense set the franchise record for fewest sacks, as well as the single-season rushing mark when RB Fred Taylor gained over 1,500 yards. The 2004 season saw the Jaguars post five road victories, including a shoot-out win at Indianapolis, en route to a 9-7 record.
From 1987-90, Musgrave was a four-year starter and three-year captain at Oregon. In addition to leading the Ducks to their first bowl game in 26 years, he finished his collegiate career as Oregon's all-time leader in total offense, while establishing 15 school passing records. His 60 passing touchdowns ranked second only to Elway in PAC-10 history.
Musgrave was born November 11, 1967 in Grand Junction, Colorado and is a member of both the University of Oregon and state of Colorado Hall of Fames. He received the prestigious Denver Post's Gold Helmet Award for 1985, as well as being named the Colorado High School Athlete of the Year after a stellar three-year career in basketball, track, baseball and football at Grand Junction High School.
He and his wife, Neely, have four children. | 