One of the Cleveland Browns’ former coaches just landed a new gig.
Gregg Williams, who served as the Browns’ defensive coordinator starting in 2017, will prowl the sidelines in the XFL under head coach Reggie Barlow.
Known for his aggressive defensive lineups and play-calling, Williams bounced around the NFL for three decades.
Most recently, he called defensive plays for the New York Jets, which didn’t work out.
On the last play of his Jets tenure, Williams called an all-out blitz against the Las Vegas Raiders.
A little context: the Raiders were decent, and the Jets were 0-12.
But somehow, the Jets found a way to go up on the Raiders and led 28-24 on the last play of the drive.
The Raiders (obviously) called a Hail Mary.
Gregg Williams called (moronically) an all-out blitz, leaving nary a soul to cover the streaking receivers.
The Jets lost.
New York fired (and surely exiled) Williams immediately after.
Fan Reactions
Given Williams’ history, fan reactions ran the gamut:
yea theres no way thats the Gregg Williams that i think it is https://t.co/Ee1LSgtIAk
— 💫 (@DesignsByPeak) June 9, 2022
Also returning to the XFL on the coaching side are AJ Smith, Jim Herrmann, Junes Jones and Jamie Elizondo.
Returning personnel figures are Randy Mueller, Joey Clinkscales, Dave Boller and Will Lewis.
The infamous Gregg Williams will be Reggie Barlow’s DC.
— Mike Mitchell (@ByMikeMitchell) June 9, 2022
Gregg Williams and the XFL have always been on a collision course. https://t.co/1aROz7JeI5
— ✌️The Peoples Champ, UCF✌️ (@VinDiGioiaUCF) June 9, 2022
Tank Commander Gregg Williams??? https://t.co/44UQEMRCOD
— Jets and Knicks Feed 🛫🗽 (@JetsandKnicks) June 9, 2022
Of ALL the head coaching jobs offered, Williams chose the XFL. Bold strategy, Cotton. https://t.co/qmM2CROdgD
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) June 9, 2022
Gregg Williams in the XFL,
this should be an absolute disaster. https://t.co/UyvFZ3oCBm— Michael Hauff (@TheFFRealist) June 9, 2022
Cleveland’s Finest
Here’s a trivia question: how many Browns head coaches have left the team with a winning record since 1990?
One.
I bet you can guess who.
Gregg Williams.
And while signs are promising Kevin Stefanski will eventually end his Browns career with a record above .500, he doesn’t technically count since he’s still employed.
Every other Browns head coach that has departed Cleveland over the last 30-plus years is a loser.
That list includes names like Bill Belichick, who racked up a 36-44 at the helm.
It includes the recently retired Romeo Crennel, who lost his job after going 24-40 between 2015 and 2018.
In Williams’ lone season as interim head coach, he was 5-3.
Williams took over after Hue Jackson was fired by the Browns during the 2018-19 season.
And you have to go all the way back to 1988 to find another coach who left Cleveland with a winning record: Marty Schottenheimer, whose career record (including the playoffs) was 46-31.
Oh, what fans must have been willing to give to have him back instead of Mike Pettine and Eric Mangini.
Bounty Hunter
The XFL offers Williams an opportunity to restart a rollercoaster career.
In addition to the game-and-career blowing call with the Jets, Williams was infamously part of the New Orleans Saints’ “bountygate” scandal.
And by “part of it,” I mean he offered money to his players to take out opposing guys.
Williams apparently offered up to $1,500 for hits that resulted in offensive players leaving the field via cart.
The NFL eventually suspended Williams for his role in the scandal, but he was hired by the Tennessee Titans a year later.
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