NFL coaching trees

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Coaching trees are becoming more prominent in today's NFL culture. They are often referenced by various media outlets, such as ESPN (see Len Pasquarelli article). Each branch of the tree shows a relationship between one coach and their predecessor. The relationship shown on the below trees are of an assistant coach to a head coach. The former assistant branches out from the head coach that they used to work for. The tree examples below only show the relationship of former assistant coaches to their former head coach. In several cases, an assistant coach learns a general philosophy from their head coach. Coaching trees can also show a philosophical relationship between an assistant and a former head coach who mentored them (see Tony Dungy below). In the current NFL nearly every coach can trace their roots back to three main prominent Head Coaches: Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells, and Marty Schottenheimer (See Graphic Below).

[edit] NFL Coaching Tree Examples:

(The following graphics are offered only as EXAMPLES of coaching trees. It must be noted that each coach belongs to several different coaching trees as they work under many different coaches throughout their careers. These three trees attempt to show a relationship between each particular coach and only one of the former head coaches that they worked under.)

(Coaches underlined in red are current NFL head coaches.)

As seen above, 30 of the 32 current head coaches in the NFL can trace their coaching line back to these three coaches. There are also several former head coaches in all three trees. (Norv Turner and Lane Kiffin are the only to NFL head coaches that are not in the above trees. See below.)

[edit] Philosophical Tree Connections

Coaching trees can also show a philosophical relationship between a mentor head coach and their protege. Below is a list of current head coaches and who they primarily developed their philosophy under:

Norv Turner: Worked under both John Robinson and Jimmy Johnson before his first job as a head coach for the Redskins. Turner article
Lane Kiffin: Came up through the college ranks and coached most recently at USC.
Wade Phillips: Coached under Marty Schottenheimer, but primarily trained by his father, Bum Phillips. Phillips article
Mike Nolan: Coached for Brian Billick, but primarily trained under Dan Reeves. Nolan article
Jon Gruden: Worked under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay. Holmgren/Gruden article
Tony Dungy: Is listed above as part of the Schottenheimer coaching tree. However, Dungy attributes most of his coaching style from tutelage under Chuck Noll. Noll learned much of his philosophy from Paul Brown. Noll coached Dungy as a player and also gave him his first NFL position as the defensive backs coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dungy later became the defensive coordinator for the Steelers. Dungy article

Additionally, many college football coaches worked as assistants for head coaches on the tree. For instance, Bill Belichick can claim Kirk Ferentz and Charlie Weis as descendants of his tree, though they are not included in the graphic above.