- Publish date:
SI Players, Jan. 19, 2009: Update
BY INTERVIEWING for one gig (coach of the Jets) while holding another (same position with Boston College), Jeff Jagodzinski ended up with no job. On Jan. 7, BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo fired Jagodzinski after warning him that a meeting with the NFL club would be cause for dismissal. Two weeks later the Jets hired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. But Jagodzinski, 45, didn't stay unemployed for long.
Last week new Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris hired Jagodzinski as his offensive coordinator. Jagodzinski won 20 games in his two years with BC, but his most notable accomplishment was to mentor QB Matt Ryan during his senior season; Ryan was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Falcons this season.
Jagodzinski, who hasn't commented publicly on his new job, takes over an offense in need of a boost. Tampa Bay, which lost its last four games to finish 9--7 and miss the playoffs, was 14th in the league in total offense with 38-year-old Jeff Garcia getting most of the snaps. "I'm going to let the guy come in and run his system," Morris said. "People get tied up in schemes, but I believe in hiring people and letting them do what they do."
PHOTO
CHRIS O'MEARA/AP (UPDATE)
BUC STOPS HERE Jagodzinski will run Tampa Bay's offense.
