Since former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly left Eugene for the NFL, Oregon fans have seen some of their brightest star players join Kelly in Philadelphia. But, one former Duck, Bill Musgrave, is leaving Kelly’s coaching staff after accepting the offensive coordinator position with the Oakland Raiders.
Bill Musgrave has joined the Oakland Raiders coaching staff as offensive coordinator.
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) January 20, 2015
Musgrave was hired as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach by Kelly to replace Bill Lazor in 2014.
Musgrave began his professional coaching career in 1997 as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, guiding QB Jeff George to the best season of his career (George threw for 3,917 yards and 29 touchdowns).
Since 1997, Musgrave has bounced around the NFL, serving as offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003) and Minnesota Vikings (2011) and as quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons (2006-2009), Washington Redskins (2005), and Philadelphia Eagles (1998).
Talked to people in Philly about Musgrave: Cerebral, a very good teacher. Spoke highly of him as a coach
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) January 20, 2015
As an NFL player, Musgrave was drafted in the fourth round in 1991 by the Dallas Cowboys but was released that year to the San Francisco 49ers. Subsequently, he played in San Francisco’s Super Bowl XXIX victory as a backup to Steve Young. Musgrave then went to Denver as a backup to legendary Broncos quarterback, John Elway.
UO Athletics Hall of Fame quarterback Bill Musgrave marked the beginning of a new era for Duck football.
As a player, Musgrave is best known as one of the great Oregon quarterbacks, inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. Under head coach Rich Brooks, the Ducks’ prolific passer finished his career at Oregon with a 57.4 pass completion percentage, 8,000 passing yards, and 60 touchdowns.
The former Oregon MVP also led the Ducks to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in school history, winning the 1989 Independence Bowl against Tulsa, 27-24.
As the Oakland Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, Musgrave will reunite with new Raiders head coach, Jack Del Rio. Musgrave previously served as Del Rio’s offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003.
Del Rio and Musgrave will attempt to turn around a 3-13 Raiders team led by the young, but talented, quarterback Derek Carr. The Raiders offense could use some help after finishing this last season at, or near, the bottom of every offensive statistical category.
Top Photo by John Giustina
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Jordan is a lifelong Duck fan currently living in San Diego. Jordan graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, after serving a prestigious fellowship with the Washington State House of Representatives. Upon graduation, he worked as an English language teaching assistant for the Spanish Ministry of Education’s Ambassadorial Program in Monforte de Lemos, Spain. Jordan has worked as a journalist, writer, and editor in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and California, covering a wide range of topics, including sports, local politics, and crime. He is VERY excited to be writing about his beloved Oregon Ducks.