FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Howard Mudd knows that he only has a few days left in a storied National Football League coaching career.
Mudd announced his retirement during training camp and he really means it this time. The former NFL offensive guard — widely considered as one of the best offensive line coaches in the league — retired briefly last summer over concerns about the NFL’s new pension plan.
He came back to the Indianapolis Colts, as did longtime offensive coordinator Tom Moore. They were given new titles — senior offensive line coach and senior offensive coordinator. But their roles with the team remained the same.
Moore has said that he will stay as long as the Colts want him around. That’s a given. Mudd, though, is ready to move on and spend some quality time with his wife and family.
To be able to end his coaching career in the Super Bowl is a thrill. To be able to go out with a second Super Bowl ring would be so much sweeter.
“Just the Super Bowl in itself is such a magnificent thing. I wasn’t a participant (as a player). I sat in the stands and watched the first Super Bowl. It was unbelievable. I had gone to the Pro Bowl, so they had all the Pro Bowl players all sitting at the 50-yard line in the first one,” he recalled Tuesday.
“I looked down there and went, “..., look at all these people I am sitting with.” The magnitude of that part was there and then the Super Bowl. The buildup of the first one and now everyone is such a magnificent thing. Then to have that be your last game is pretty cool.”
So is spending his final season as an NFL assistant working under Jim Caldwell. The two were friends before Caldwell was promoted to head coach. Now that relationship is even stronger.
“After we played the (New York) Jets [in the AFC championship game], I was really happy because we were going to the Super Bowl. I was real happy for a lot of things. But I was happiest for Jim Caldwell. He had legendary things to follow,” Mudd said.
“Tony (Dungy) was iconic. There was a lot of things that went into that. And he did it his way. Why I was so proud to be part (of this year’s success) is that I thought that Jim did it his way. He didn’t try to be Tony Dungy. He tried to be Jim Caldwell. The only similarity between what Jim did and what Tony did was we did the same (practice) schedule. You could count on it. I could tell you on Wednesday next year when they start out, I know exactly where you go to meet. So the schedule is exactly the same. And Tony didn’t invent that. He got it from (former Minnesota Vikings coach) Dennis (Green) and Dennis got it from Bill Walsh. It was a well thought out system.”
He went on.
“To say that (Caldwell) didn’t borrow things from Tony, I’m sure he did. But it didn’t sound like Tony Dungy talking to the team. Ever. He did it Jim Caldwell’s way. Tony’s boundaries were there. Jim defined the boundaries, probably they were more clear. Jim probably had a more defined outline about certain things. Very defined.”
Colts
Colts' Mudd looking to go out a winner
- Colts
-
-
Another surgery for Manning?
According to a Wednesday report by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks on the magazine’s website, Peyton Manning underwent an unreported follow-up procedure on his injured neck last summer and the Indianapolis Colts believe further surgery is inevitable in the future.
-
Irsay throws ball into Manning's court
The March 8 deadline for the Indianapolis Colts to determine the future of quarterback Peyton Manning is quickly approaching.
And owner Jim Irsay fired off the most recent salvo in an ongoing public-relations standoff Tuesday.
Contradicting rampant speculation by the national media concerning Manning’s imminent departure, Irsay told the Indianapolis Star’s Mike Chappell the team would love to have the four-time MVP back.
At the right price. -
Report: Peyton Manning cleared to resume playing
According to ESPN, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been medically cleared to play next season. The report stated that Manning was cleared by two doctors, including Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the most recent surgery on the quarterback's neck.
-
Irsay: Mathis, Garcon are priorities
Expect defensive end Robert Mathis and wide receiver Pierre Garcon to be priorities for the Indianapolis Colts during free agency. According to Colts owner Jim Irsay, Mathis and Garcon are both unrestricted free agents and appear to be the cornerstones for the team moving forward. Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne, meanwhile, may be suiting up for another team in 2012.
-
Manning: I have no plans to retire
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made one thing clear Tuesday. He has no plans to retire any time soon.
-
Ravens hire Caldwell as coach
Jim Caldwell is back in the NFL, this time as the Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach. The 57-year-old Caldwell was hired on Monday by the Ravens. The appointment comes less than two weeks after Caldwell was fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season.
-
Anderson native instrumental in Colts' move to Indy
When Hoosiers look at those responsible for bringing Super Bowl XLVI to Indianapolis, they might well consider Paul R. Oakes.
-
Reports: Arians set to join Colts
Multiple media reports, including one by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, indicated Saturday that former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will accept the same post with the Indianapolis Colts.
-
Irsay, Manning make nice in letter
Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history.
-
Manning, Irsay insist they are on same page
Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history.
- More Colts Headlines
-
