Romeo Crennel

Head Coach

Romeo Crennel is entering his fourth season as Head Coach and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension (thru 2011) on Jan. 29, 2008. Crennel led the Browns to 10-6 record in 2007, including a franchise-best seven consecutive home wins, and witnessed six Browns selected to the Pro Bowl. Crennel’s offense developed into a highly productive unit and ranked eighth in the NFL in offense (5,621 net yards) and scoring (402 points). The output of net yards and scoring also ranked third best in franchise history.

Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history. Crennel returned to Cleveland in 2005, after serving as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2000, and along with Phil Savage helped rebuild the football operations. Crennel previously led the Browns to a respectable 6-10 record in his first year as a head coach and added a 4-12 mark in 2006. His resume includes 38 years of coaching experience, including 27 years in the NFL.

Crennel and Savage made plans for the upcoming 2008 season and were aggressive in free agency by resigning QB Derek Anderson and RB Jamal Lewis. They also signed WR Donte’ Stallworth (New England) and OL Rex Hadnot (Miami) to provide depth at both the wide receiver and offensive line positions respectfully, and addressed the defensive line by acquiring Corey Williams (Green Bay) and Shaun Rogers (Detroit) via trade. With the 2008 NFL Draft, Crennel and Savage traded up in the fourth round to select LB Beau Bell (UNLV) and TE Martin Rucker (Missouri).

In 2007, Crennel and Savage addressed several offensive needs by signing LG Eric Steinbach (Cincinnati), RG Seth McKinney (Miami) and RB Jamal Lewis (Baltimore). Defensively, they added veteran depth by signing DE Robaire Smith (Tennessee), DT Shaun Smith (Cincinnati) and LB Antwan Peek (Houston). With the 2007 NFL Draft, Crennel and Savage orchestrated the draft by adding seven selections, including landing three heralded selections on the first day—OT Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) with the third overall selection, and traded up to select QB Brady Quinn (Notre Dame) with the 22nd selection, and DB Eric Wright (UNLV) in the second round.

In 2006, Crennel’s relationship with 12-year veteran LB Willie McGinest (New England) was a key component in bringing him to Cleveland. In addition, the Browns added TE Darnell Dinkins (Baltimore), WR Joe Jurevicius (Seattle), OL Kevin Shaffer (Atlanta) and P Dave Zastudil (Baltimore) in free agency. With the 2006 NFL Draft, ten draft selections were added including LB Kamerion Wimbley (Florida State) with the 13th selection and LB D’Qwell Jackson (Maryland) in the second round.

In 2005, Crennel brought a 3-4 defensive scheme to Cleveland and witnessed his defense T-16th in defense (316.8 ypg) and ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense (179.2 ypg). Crennel and Savage used draft choices to bring an infusion of youth to the roster, including first round selection WR Braylon Edwards and second round pick S Brodney Pool.

Prior to joining the Browns, Crennel was widely recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL. He crafted the defense for the New England Patriots and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls (2001, 2003-04). 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 turnovers, put pressure on Eagles QB Donovan McNabb with four sacks and limited the Eagles running game to 45 net yards rushing.

In the 2004 postseason, New England allowed only 51 points (17 points per game) in three postseason games, including a 20-3 win over Indianapolis in an 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 regular season, the Patriots ranked ninth in the NFL in total defense (310.8 ypg), sixth in run defense (98.3 ypg) and 17th in pass defense (212.5 ypg). Crennel’s defensive unit was tied for third in the NFL with 45 sacks, tied for second with 260 points allowed (16.3 ppg) on the year, allowed nine rushing TDs on the season and ranked third in the AFC in red zone defense (40.8%). 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 evident 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. During one stretch, the Patriots did not allow a touchdown on 62 consecutive opponents’ possessions at home, a streak that spanned more than five games 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. 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. In its 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 Jets’ defensive line coach, the New York defense was among the best 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 ppg), 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 be 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.

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 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. In his first season in New York, the Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1963.

His first Super Bowl championship with the Giants staff was following the 1986 season as special teams coach and a 39-20 win over Denver in Super Bowl XXI. The Giants also won Super Bowl XXV, 20-19, over Buffalo as Crennel served as defensive line coach.

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 1975, he started a three-year tenure at Texas Tech as a defensive assistant on Parcells’ defensive staff. 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 Tulley, Tiffany Stokes and Kristin Cullinane.