Installing the first pillar in the Packers' new coaching staff, Head Coach Mike McCarthy Sunday named Wisconsin native Jeff Jagodzinski offensive coordinator.
Jagodzinski, 42, returns to the Packers from the Atlanta Falcons, where he'd spent the previous two seasons. He served last season as the Falcons' offensive line coach, a promotion he had earned after his first year in Atlanta, 2004, as tight ends coach.
During each of Jagodzinski's two years in Atlanta, the Falcons led the NFL in both rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry. In part behind timely blocks from the coach's tight ends, Atlanta in 2004 set a franchise record with 2,672 rushing yards, a springboard to the team's berth in the NFC Championship game. Last season, with Jagodzinski as line coach, the Falcons' zone-blocking schemes led the way for RB Warrick Dunn's career-high 1,416 rushing yards, a Pro Bowl effort.
Alge Crumpler, the coach's primary pupil as tight ends coach in 2004, went to the Pro Bowl that season after establishing career highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (774) and touchdowns (6). Crumpler's 16.1-yard per-catch average led all NFL tight ends.
Jagodzinski (jay-gah-ZIN-skee) during his time in Atlanta worked with offensive line consultant Alex Gibbs, the architect of some of the best offensive lines in NFL history, including the 1997-98 Super Bowl champion Broncos. Jagodzinski had coached for 19 years at the pro and college levels before he worked with Gibbs. The new Packers coordinator has 21 overall seasons of coaching experience.
Prior to joining the Falcons, Jagodzinski spent five years (1999-2003) as the Packers' tight ends coach. During that time, he coached with McCarthy (1999) and was instrumental in launching the career of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks.
Before entering the NFL, Jagodzinski served as offensive coordinator/offensive line at Boston College (1997-98), offensive line coach (1992-96) and tight ends/assistant offensive line (1989-91) at East Carolina, offensive line coach (1987-88) at LSU, offensive line coach at Northern Illinois (1986) and running backs coach (1985) at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Born in Milwaukee, Jagodzinski played collegiately at Whitewater, starting three years at fullback. He was all-conference at West Allis (Wis.) Central High School.
Only the sixth individual to hold the title of Packers offensive coordinator, Jagodzinski joins Paul Roach (1975-76), Bob Schnelker (1982-85), Lindy Infante (1988-91), Sherman Lewis (1992-99) and Tom Rossley (2000-05). Schnelker (1969-71), John Polonchek (1972-74), Lew Carpenter (1975-79) and Tom Coughlin (1986-87) served as passing game coordinators on staffs that didn't necessarily carry an offensive coordinator.
