After moving on from longtime employee Dave Campo in the secondary, the Cowboys made another transition in one of the team's biggest trouble areas from the 2011 season.
Longtime offensive line guru and running game coordinator Hudson Houck has retired, creating an opening on Jason Garrett's assistant coaching staff. That vacancy was quickly filled by former Oakland Raiders head coach Bill Callahan.
The Dallas Cowboys have hired former New York Jets line coach Bill Callahan to replace legendary offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who has decided to retire after 29 years in the NFL, Houck confirmed Tuesday night.
The Cowboys are also hiring Cleveland Browns Jerome Henderson as their new defensive backs coach, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Whether or not Houck was asked to retire or is leaving on his own volition isn't known, but he is leaving with grace and class.
"I've had a great time, been part of a lot of winning teams and I've enjoyed a lot of wonderful relationships," said Houck. "I plan on meeting with (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones tomorrow to just express my gratitude for what he's done for me and my family. It's time for me and Elsie (his wife) to enjoy the grandkids even more."
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Callahan has spent time as an assistant in Philadelphia and Oakland, before taking over for Jon Gruden and leading the Raiders to the 2002 Super Bowl. He also has recently served as the head coach for the University of Nebraska, prior to spending the last three seasons in New York with the Jets as Assistant Head Coach.
In 2008, three of the offensive linemen (with Bill Callahan as their position coach) from the Jets were named to the Pro Bowl-center Nick Mangold, guard Alan Faneca and tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. All three repeated in 2009. Under Callahan's direction of the running game the Jets broke the franchise record in 2009 gaining 2756 yards on the ground through 16 regular season games. They led the National Football League in rushing and averaged 4.5 yard per attempt.
Meanwhile of the defensive side of the ball, Dallas moved quickly to replace Dave Campo. Jerome Henderson has spent the last three years coaching defensive backs for the Cleveland Browns. Here's part of his bio from their website.
In 2010, Henderson was instrumental in the development of cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward, both of whom were consensus all-rookie selections...Prior to joining the Browns, Henderson spent the previous two seasons as a member of the New York Jets’ staff. Under Henderson’s guidance as defensive backs coach in 2008, cornerback Darrelle Revis earned a Pro Bowl berth after leading the team with five interceptions. In 2007, Henderson split duties as an assistant defensive backs coach and director of player development. He first joined the Jets in 2006 as the director of player development
Henderson played eight seasons as a defensive back in the NFL after New England made him a second-round draft choice in 1991. He played with the Patriots (1991-93, 1996), Buffalo (1993-94), Philadelphia (1995) and the Jets (1997-98) in his NFL career, during which time he appeared in 98 games with 34 starts. He recorded nine career interceptions. Henderson played in two Super Bowls, with the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII and with New England in Super Bowl XXXI.
Hat tip to BTB member Nets2410 for the Fan Shot.