Hartford Colonials Coach/GM Chris Palmer Named Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator
February 15, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Hartford Colonials News Release
CHRIS PALMER, who served as the Hartford Colonials Head Coach and General Manager during the 2010 United Football League season, has been named offensive coordinator of the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
Palmer, a Brewster, N.Y. native, rejoins the NFL coaching ranks following his one-year stint in the UFL with the Colonials. He joins a list of former UFL coaches who have been hired by NFL teams in recent weeks. The group includes Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, who led the Florida Tuskers to the 2010 UFL championship game.
In addition to Palmer, three Colonials assistant coaches - Kevin O'Dea (Chicago Bears), Tony Sparano Jr. (Miami Dolphins), and Todd Washington (Baltimore Ravens) - were hired by NFL teams in recent weeks, and former Colonials Defensive Coordinator Osai Lewis joined the coaching staff at San Diego State.
Widely respected by his peers, Palmer's NFL coaching experience spans two decades and includes a two-year stint as Cleveland Browns Head Coach in 1999-2000.
"Having personally worked with Chris Palmer at Jacksonville I was abundantly aware of his outstanding qualities as a coach," said UFL Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE. "While we regret losing such a gifted coach we recognize the UFL is about opportunities. Chris is undertaking a new opportunity and we wish him much success."
Palmer has a connection to Titans franchise that pre-dates the team's move from Houston to Nashville in 1997. His first NFL job was wide receivers coach with the Houston Oilers from 1990-92, during which time recently-named Titans Head Coach Mike Munchak was an offensive lineman on the team.
It marks the third time he has been appointed offensive coordinator for an NFL team. He previously held the same position with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1997-98) and Houston Texans (2002-05).
Palmer also has been an assistant with the New England Patriots (1993-96), Dallas Cowboys (2006) and New York Giants ('07-09). He has been on the coaching staff of two Super Bowl teams - the 1996 Patriots and 2007 Giants, earning a Super Bowl ring with the latter.
In 2010 Palmer led the Colonials to a 3-5 regular season record and defeated the eventual UFL champion Las Vegas Locos 27-14 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford in his final game in charge. The Colonials had more players signed to active rosters and practice squads of NFL teams following the 2010 season than any other UFL team.
2010 HARTFORD COLONIALS COACHES IN THE NFL
Coach Position with Colonials NFL team Position
Chris Palmer Head Coach /
General Manager Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator
Kevin O ¬â¢Dea Special Teams Coordinator Chicago Bears Special Teams Assistant
Tony Sporano Jr. Defensive Line Assistant Miami Dolphins Offensive Quality Control
Todd Washington Offensive Line Baltimore Ravens Offensive Line
2010 HARTFORD COLONIALS PLAYERS SIGNED BY NFL TEAMS
PLAYER TRANSACTION DATE
DE Derek Walker Seattle Seahawks practice squad Nov. 26
RB Lorenzo Booker Minnesota Vikings active roster Dec. 6
S Quintin Demps Houston Texans active roster Dec. 7
S Emanuel Cook New York Jets active roster Dec. 8
OL Colin Brown Buffalo Bills active roster Dec. 15
DB Ben Hannula New York Giants practice squad Dec. 16
CB Gerard Lawson Philadelphia Eagles active roster Dec. 24
DE Maurice Fountain Seattle Seahawks practice squad Dec. 28
DL Vince Oghobaase Washington Redskins practice squad Dec. 29
WR Pat Carter Reserve/future contract, Miami Dolphins Jan. 4
RB Chris Jennings Reserve/future, New York Jets Jan. 5
TE Tyson DeVree Reserve/future, Cleveland Browns Jan. 5
LB Simoni Lawrence Reserve/future, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jan. 5
QB Ryan Perrilloux Reserve/future, New York Giants Jan. 14
OL Jacob Bender Reserve/future, Carolina Panthers Jan. 14
LB Kenny Ingram Reserve/future, New York Giants Jan. 14
DL Marlon Favorite Reserve/future, New England Patriots Jan. 18
United Football League Stories from February 15, 2011
- Mountain Lions Name Martin Bayless Defensive Coordinator - Sacramento Mountain Lions
- Hartford Colonials Coach/GM Chris Palmer Named Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator - Hartford Colonials
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