Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Red Raider Assistant Named Cleveland Browns Head Coach
February 09, 2005 | Football
Feb. 9, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - Former Red Raider defensive assistant Romeo Crennel was named Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history. Crennel crafted the defensive game plan for the New England Patriots and helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl in three of the last four seasons (2001, 2003, 2004) as their defensive coordinator. Crennel was widely recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL and his resume includes 35 years of coaching experience, including 24 years in the NFL.
Crennel coached at Texas Tech during the Steve Sloan years (1975-77) and was a member of Bill Parcel's defensive staff at Tech. At the time, the 1975-77 teams posted the best three-year win total in school history with 23. The 2002-04 Red Raiders established a new mark with 25 wins.
Crennel's defense played an integral role in the Patriots' 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, as the defense forced four Eagles turnovers, consistently put pressure on Eagles QB Donovan McNabb with four sacks and limited the Eagles running game to only 45 net yards rushing.
In the 2004 post-season, New England allowed only 51 points (17 points per game) in three postseason games, including a 20-3 win over Indianapolis in the AFC Divisional Playoff game, a 41-27 win at Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game and the 24-21 win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX. In New England's AFC Divisional Playoff victory over Indianapolis, the Patriots did not allow the Colts in the end zone during their 20-3 victory, marking the first time in NFL history that a team led the league in scoring during the regular season, and did not score a touchdown in a playoff game.
During the 2004 season, the Patriots ranked 9th in the NFL in total defense (310.8 yards per game) and ranked 6th in run defense (98.3 yards per game) and 17th in pass defense (212.5 yards per game). Crennel's defensive unit was T-3rd in the NFL with 45 sacks, T-2nd with only 260 points allowed (16.3 points per game) on the year, allowed only nine rushing TDs on the season and ranked 3rd in the AFC in red zone defense (40.8%), as the defense recorded this feat using 10 different starting lineups.
In 2003, he was recognized by the Pro Football Writers of America as the NFL's Assistant Coach of the Year. The New England defense was among the best units in NFL history, propelling the Patriots to a 15-game winning streak that culminated with a 32-29 victory over Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII. New England allowed a league-low and franchise-record 14.9 points per game, while also leading the league with 29 interceptions. The dominance of the defense was evidenced by the team's three shutouts, equaling the franchise shutout total from the previous 17 seasons combined. The Patriots defense was at its best at home, where it allowed only 9.6 points per game and surrendered just four touchdowns in the regular season. Over one stretch, the Patriots did not allow a touchdown on 62 consecutive opponents' possessions at home, a streak that spanned more than five games worth of clock time. New England was the first team in 65 years to keep its opponent out of the end zone in four consecutive home games in a season. While proving adept at stopping opponents' offenses, the Patriots defense provided some potent offense of its own, leading the NFL with six defensive touchdowns, including five interceptions returned for scores, tying a team record.
Crennel returned to the New England Patriots when he was named the defensive coordinator on Bill Belichick's staff on Feb. 1, 2001. In 2001, the defense played an integral role in propelling the Patriots to a season-ending win streak to claim the first Super Bowl title for the franchise. The 2001 Patriots surrendered just 272 points (17.0 ppg), ranking sixth in the league for fewest points allowed. By the end of the season, the defense was in a zone, especially in the "Red Zone." In their last five regular season games, the defense surrendered just seven field goals and one touchdown. The Patriots won all five of those games and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Crennel was reunited with Belichick in 2001 as the two coaches began coaching together as assistants on Ray Perkins' staff for the New York Giants in 1981. The 2004 season marked the 18th campaign for Crennel and Belichick together, during which time they have earned five Super Bowl titles, six conference titles and eight division titles. While with the Patriots, Crennel and Belichick have contributed to victories in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX, in addition to New England's AFC title in 1996.
The Patriots defense created opportunities for the offense in 2001 by recording 22 interceptions (second in the AFC, sixth in the NFL), 12 more than they had in 2000. Five of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, setting a single-season franchise record. In the playoffs, DB Ty Law added another interception, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown in the 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Crennel, who was the defensive line coach for the Patriots from 1993 to 1996, spent three seasons with the New York Jets (1997-99) and a season as the defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2000). During his season in Cleveland, the Browns recorded 42 sacks, a 17-sack improvement from the 1999 season.
In his three seasons as the Jets' defensive line coach, the New York defense was among the stingiest in the NFL, never allowing more than 20 points per game for a season. In 1997, he successfully incorporated a rotation of six new defensive linemen on a unit that allowed just 287 total points (17.9 points per game), second in the AFC and sixth in the NFL. The following season, he added four new linemen to his rotation, and the formula contributed to an improvement from the year before as the defense allowed just 16.6 points per game, finishing second in the league.
His first tenure in New England was a four-year assignment as Bill Parcells' defensive line coach, beginning in 1993 and ending with an AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXI appearance in January of 1997. In 1994, the Patriots qualified for the playoffs for the first time in eight years after winning their last seven games of the regular season. The defense allowed just 13.3 points per game during that seven-game stretch. In 1996, the Patriots defense allowed just 12.8 points per game in the final five contests of the regular season to propel the team back to the playoffs. The Patriots were victorious by scores of 28-3 and 20-6, respectively, in two playoff games to claim their second conference title in franchise history and advance to Super Bowl XXXI.
Crennel began his professional coaching career in 1981 as a special assignments/special teams/defensive assistant coach with the New York Giants. He became the special teams coach in 1983 and was assigned the defensive line position in 1990, a position he has since coached for 14 seasons. In 12 seasons in New York (1981-92), the Giants qualified for the playoffs six times, won three division titles and two Super Bowl championships. His first Super Bowl championship with the Giants staff was following the 1996 season as special teams coach and a 39-20 win over Denver in Super Bowl XXI. The Giants also won Super Bowl XXV with a 20-19 win over Buffalo as Crennel served as defensive line coach. In his first season in New York, the Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1963 with a 9-7 record. It was their first winning record in nine seasons.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, in 1970. He was named defensive line coach the following season in 1971. In 1978, he was named the defensive ends coach at Mississippi. After two seasons at Ole Miss, he accepted a position at Georgia Tech in 1980, where he spent his final season in the collegiate ranks before being hired by the Giants in 1981.
Crennel was a four-year starter (1966-69) as a defensive lineman at Western Kentucky. After three seasons as one of the Hilltoppers top tacklers, he was elected team captain as a senior. When the Western Kentucky offense struggled early in the season, Crennel willingly gave up what would have been a sure shot at all-conference honors as a defensive lineman to fill in at offensive tackle. The move helped solidify the offensive line and earned Crennel team MVP honors.
Crennel is a native of Lynchburg, Va. He was a high school standout at both Fort Knox (Ky.) High and Central High (Amherst, Va.). He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Western Kentucky, and then earned his master's degree while serving as a graduate assistant for the school in 1970. His brother, Carl, played linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970 and played in the CFL from 1971-81 for five different teams. Romeo and his wife, Rosemary, have three daughters, Lisa, Tiffany and Kristin.
Coaching Background: 1970 Western Kentucky University, Graduate Assistant 1971-74 Western Kentucky University, Defensive Line 1975-77 Texas Tech University, Defensive Assistant 1978-79 University of Mississippi, Defensive Ends Coach 1980 Georgia Tech University, Defensive Line Coach 1981-82 New York Giants, Special Teams/ Defensive Assistant Coach 1983-89 New York Giants, Special Teams Coach 1990-92 New York Giants, Defensive Line Coach 1993-96 New England Patriots, Defensive Line Coach 1997-99 New York Jets, Defensive Line Coach 2000 Cleveland Browns, Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Line Coach 2001 New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator 2002-03 New England Patriots, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach 2004 New England Patriots, Defensive Coordinator 2005 Cleveland Browns, Head Coach
SUPER BOWL SUCCESS Crennel has appeared in six Super Bowls during his 24 years of coaching in the NFL, including five Super Bowl rings.
Season Super Bowl Outcome Coaching Position, Team 1986 XXI 39-20 win Special Teams, New York Giants 1990 XXV 20-17 win Defensive Line Coach, New York Giants 1996 XXXI 35-21 loss Defensive Line Coach, New England Patriots 2001 XXXVI 20-17 win Defensive Coordinator, New England Patriots 2003 XXXVIII 32-29 win Defensive Coordinator, New England Patriots 2004 XXXIX 24-21 win Defensive Coordinator, New England Patriots