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Jerry Rosburg will serve as the Falcons' new Special Teams Coordinator after establishing an excellent reputation in the same capacity with the Cleveland Browns for the past six seasons.
Rosburg brings to the Falcons 28 years of coaching experience, including over 20 years at the collegiate level. Rosburg's performance in Cleveland was well known around the League and reflected in yearly rankings by respected national NFL writer Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, whose annual comprehensive poll ranks teams from 1-32 based on their results in 21 special teams categories. Under Rosburg's direction, the Browns were the number one special teams unit in the NFL over the last five seasons (2002-06) in average ranking, according to Gosselin.
In 2006, Rosburg's special teams were ranked as the fifth-best in the League in Gosselin's final poll. With Rosburg's help, Browns punt returner Dennis Northcutt finished fourth in the NFL in punt return average last year with an 11.1 mark. Also, Cleveland's kickoff returner Joshua Cribbs established a new team record for kickoff return yardage with 1,494 yards en route to being named the Browns' team most valuable player in 2006. Rosburg's troops ended up second in the League in starting field position off of kickoff returns (31.4) and fourth in opponent starting position (25.3) to become the only team in the top five in both categories in the League.
In 2005, the Browns special teams unit led the league in scoring as Cleveland was the only team to score a touchdown on special teams in three different ways - punt return, kickoff return and blocked field goal attempt. Northcutt ranked fourth in the league with a 10.1 punt return average, while K Phil Dawson ranked second in the NFL in field goal accuracy, converting 93% of his field goals (27-29). Gosselin rated the Browns special teams unit as sixth-best in the NFL. The team also ranked sixth in the poll a year prior, and in 2002, was ranked fourth in the NFL after blocking a total of five kicks to lead the NFL.
Since 2001, the Browns have ranked sixth in opponent kickoff return average (20.8) and fourth in punt return average (10.3) under Rosburg's direction.
During his days in Cleveland, Rosburg had a hand in helping Northcutt set Browns club records for career punt returns (174) and career punt return yardage (1,837). Also, Dawson became one of the NFL's most accurate kickers during Rosburg's tenure. His work with Dawson also included a team record streak of 27 consecutive field goals (2003-04) and connecting on the highest field goal percentage for a career in team history (.821). P Dave Zastudil enjoyed his best season with Rosburg's guidance in 2006, finishing the season sixth in net punt average (38.4) and sixth in punts placed inside the 20 (28).
Rosburg's background includes over 20 years as a college coach. Prior to joining the Browns, he served as cornerback/special teams coach at the University of Notre Dame for two seasons (1999-2000). He helped the 2000 Fighting Irish to a Bowl Championship Series berth and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.
Rosburg spent two seasons as the Secondary Coach at Boston College (1997-98), one season as the Secondary Coach at the University of Minnesota (1996) and served as an assistant coach for four seasons at the University of Cincinnati (1992-95). At Cincinnati, he coached linebackers from 1992-94, the secondary in 1995, and helped the Bearcats to an 8-3 record in 1993. Rosburg coached linebackers and special teams at Western Michigan University from 1987-91. The Broncos posted a nine-win season in 1988 and earned a California Bowl appearance.
Rosburg started his college coaching career at Northern Michigan University as a two-year graduate assistant in 1981-82 and helped the school earn Division II playoff appearances each season. He was appointed full-time before being elevated to Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach in 1986.
Rosburg began in the coaching profession as an assistant coach at Fargo Shanley High School (1979-80) prior to moving to the collegiate level. An All-American linebacker at North Dakota State, he received his bachelor's degree in 1978, and went on to earn a master's degree from Northern Michigan in 1983.
A native of Fairmont, Minnesota, Rosburg was born on November 24, 1955. He and his wife, Sherry, have two daughters, Megan and Margaret, and one son, Jerad. | 