The Baltimore Ravens have added John Matsko as offensive line coach and Wilbert Montgomery as the team’s new running backs coach. Head coach John Harbaugh made the announcement today.
Matsko, who joins the Ravens after two seasons coaching the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line, has over 30 years of experience coaching on the NFL and NCAA levels. Over his outstanding career, he has tutored a number of Pro Bowl linemen as well as coached seven years (1999-2005) for the high-powered St. Louis Rams’ offense.
“John is an old school football coach, who at the same time, is at the forefront of teaching offensive line play,†said head coach John Harbaugh. “He’s a leader and has a tremendous track record, but his forte has always been developing offensive linemen.â€
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to work with Mr. Bisciotti, Dick Cass, Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh,†said Matsko. “I was amazed with the Ravens’ facility, but more impressed by the quality of people in the building and their leadership. I’m looking forward to working with our good mix of young talent and veterans on the offensive line.â€
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron spoke highly of Matsko’s background: “He brings a wealth of experience and success coaching in our offensive system. He will do a great job with our offensive line as well as helping develop our young linemen.â€
Montgomery followed an exceptional nine-year NFL playing career as a running back, primarily for the Philadelphia Eagles, with a successful 12-year coaching career in the NFL. Most recently with the Detroit Lions (2006-07), Montgomery spent nine years tutoring the St. Louis Rams’ running backs (1997-99, 2003-05) and tight ends (2000-02) for one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history.
“We’re excited to have him. He has played and coached in our offensive system and has a tremendous amount of experience and expertise at the running back position,†said offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. “He’s helped develop guys like [Pro Bowlers] Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson, and he’ll do a great job of developing all of our running backs.â€
“I couldn’t be happier to be here with the Ravens and their winning tradition,†said Montgomery. “I’m looking forward to a fresh start, fresh faces and a new outlook. I believe we will be an electrifying offense, and with our defense and special teams play, there will be some exciting football.â€
“We’re looking forward to Wilbert leading our running back group,†said head coach John Harbaugh. “He brings considerable experience and knowledge to the position and offensive system. Players will have a chance to thrive under Wilbert’s leadership.â€
Bios of Matsko and Montgomery are below:
JOHN MATSKO
Offensive Line
College: Kent State University
Years with the Ravens: 1
Years in the NFL: 17
Years in coaching: 35
HS: Mentor (OH) HS
Born: February 2, 1951 in Cleveland, OH
John Matsko joined the Baltimore Ravens as the team’s offensive line coach on January 31, 2008. Matsko, a 35-year coaching veteran, built a successful NFL coaching resume with the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Phoenix Cardinals.
For the past 2 seasons, Matsko served as offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs’ blocking unit helped pave the way for a rushing attack that ranked 5th in the AFC in 2006, averaging 133.9 rushing yards per game. Using 5 different starting combinations on the offensive front due to injuries, Matsko still assembled units that consistently opened holes for Pro Bowl RB Larry Johnson. Johnson established franchise single-season records with 1,789 rushing yards and 11 100-yard rushing performances. The running back’s 416 carries in 2006 were also an NFL single-season record.
Under Matsko’s guidance in 2006, G Will Shields earned his 12th Pro Bowl berth while G Brian Waters was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for a third consecutive year. Developing talent is nothing new to Matsko, who tutored 7-time Pro Bowler G Adam Timmerman while with St. Louis.
Arguably Matsko’s most impressive season came in 2004, when St. Louis achieved an NFC Divisional Playoff berth with an injury-plagued offensive line. Having lost starting T Kyle Turley prior to the season and starting C Dave Wohlabaugh on opening day, the Rams started 9 different players along the line throughout the year. With Matsko’s experience, St. Louis’ offense battled its way to the playoffs and helped claim a 27-20 Wild Card win at Seattle (1/8/05).
While with the Rams, Matsko directed the offensive line for one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. In each of Matsko’s 1st 3 seasons with the club, St. Louis led the NFL in total offense while producing 3 NFL MVPs in the process – QB Kurt Warner (1999, 2001) and RB Marshall Faulk (2000). He was a member of the Rams’ team that cruised to a 13-3 regular season record in 1999 and a victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Matsko also contributed to the Rams’ offensive juggernaut that posted a franchise-best 540 points and averaged a league-best 442.2 yards per game the following year.
Prior to coaching in St. Louis, Matsko spent 2 seasons overseeing the New York Giants’ offensive line from 1997-98. He held the same position with New Orleans from 1994-96, where he helped former Chiefs T Willie Roaf earn his 1st 3 Pro Bowl berths. Matsko originally joined the NFL coaching ranks in 1992 with the Phoenix Cardinals, taking on offensive line duties for head coach Joe Bugel. Thanks to the efforts of Matsko’s unit in 1992, Phoenix RB Ronald Moore became the 1st Cardinals’ rusher to top the 1,000-yard barrier since the 1985 campaign.
Before entering the NFL, Matsko enjoyed 5 years on the coaching staff at the University of Southern California, overseeing the offensive line from 1987-88 and directing the offense from 1989-91. During his tenure with the Trojans, he helped produce 3 consecutive Rose Bowl appearances (1987-89), and had offensive linemen take home all-conference honors on 7 occasions, including former NFL Pro Bowl T Tony Boselli, who was named All-Pac 10 as a freshman in 1991.
The Mentor, Ohio native sandwiched 13 seasons in the collegiate ranks around 1 year as the head coach at Danbury High School in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio in 1976. Matsko kicked off his coaching career as a student assistant at Kent State before spending 3 years at Miami (Ohio) University, where he earned his master’s degree in education while serving as a graduate assistant (1974-75) and offensive line coach (1977). From 1978-84, Matsko enjoyed a 7-year stint as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at the University of North Carolina before moving on to instruct the offensive line for the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985 and the University of Arizona in 1986.
The Kent State alum earned his bachelor’s degree in business education in 1973. Born February 2, 1951, in Cleveland, Ohio, John and his wife, Kim, have 4 children: daughters Marie and Liz, and sons John and Michael.
WILBERT MONTGOMERY
Running Backs Coach
College: Abilene Christian
Years with Ravens: 1
Years in NFL: 12
Years in coaching: 12
HS: Greenville (MS) HS
Born: 9/16/54 in Greenville, MS
Wilbert Montgomery was named the running backs coach of the Baltimore Ravens on January 31, 2008. Montgomery has 21 years of NFL experience (9 as a player) and has built an impressive track record in his 12 years coaching. Working with current 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz for much of his career, Montgomery has a reputation for developing well-rounded RBs who excel as receivers and pass-protectors, in addition to their rushing ability. He joins the Ravens after 2 successful seasons with the Detroit Lions, which were preceded by 9 seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
In his 2 years with Detroit, injuries forced Montgomery to work with a total of 5 different starting RBs, including 3 in 2007. Still, 2 Lions RBs (Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett) went on to record 100-yard games in 2007.
In his 1st season with Detroit (2006), Montgomery helped Jones evolve into one of the NFL’s best dual-threat RBs. Jones was 4th among RBs with 61 receptions before being placed on Injured Reserve in Week 13. He was also 6th in the NFC with 1,209 yards from scrimmage (689 rushing, 520 receiving).
In his 9 seasons with the Rams, Montgomery helped architect one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. During his tenure, he helped cultivate 2 of the league’s elite RBs: Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson. In 2005, his final season in St. Louis, Montgomery coached Jackson to his 1st 1,000-yard season. The year prior, he teamed Jackson, then a rookie, with Faulk, to form a dynamic RB tandem that combined for nearly 1,500 yards.
With the Rams’ acquisition of Faulk in 1999, Montgomery coached his 1st 1,000-yard RB. Faulk compiled an NFL-record 2,429 yards from scrimmage that year and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The Rams boasted the NFL’s No. 1 offense (5th in rushing) on the way to their 1st World Championship in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Montgomery coached the Rams’ TEs from 2000-02 before switching back to RBs in 2003. Over his 9-year tenure with St. Louis, the Rams boasted the NFL’s No. 1 offense (378.8 yards per game) and ranked 3rd in scoring (25 points per game).
Prior to joining the NFL coaching ranks, Montgomery was a premier RB in his 9-year professional career. In 8 seasons with Philadelphia, Montgomery virtually rewrote the Eagles record books. He holds the Eagles’ franchise record for career rushing yards (6,538), career rushing attempts (1,465), yards in a season (1,512 in 1979), attempts in a season (338 in 1979), career 100-yard rushing games (26), 100-yard rushing games in a season (8 in 1981) and TDs in a game (4). In 1979, Montgomery led the NFL in combined yards from scrimmage with 2,012, garnering his 2nd-consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. He played his final season with the Detroit Lions in 1985. He was an inaugural inductee of the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll in 1987.
Philadelphia drafted Montgomery out of Abilene Christian in the 6th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He was a 4-year starter at RB for his alma mater and set the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics record for career TDs with 76. In 1973, he set the record for TDs by a freshman with 37, leading the Wildcats to the NAIA Division I National Championship. He also lettered in track as a sprinter. Montgomery was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
Born 9/16/54 in Greenville, MS, Montgomery attended Greenville (MS) HS. He is one of 4 brothers with NFL experience: Cleotha (Cincinnati, Cleveland and Oakland/Los Angeles); Tyrone (Oakland) and Fred (Kansas City and Philadelphia). He and his wife, Patti, have 3 children: twins Brendan and Briana, and a son, Tavian. Montgomery also has a daughter, Sherrita, and a son, Derron.
