Lions Tab Martz as O-Coordinator
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions hired Mike Martz after all.
The former Rams coach became Lions offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach yesterday, a week after he turned down the job for financial reasons.
Martz interviewed with new coach Rod Marinelli and team president Matt Millen nine days ago, but said last Thursday he wasn’t taking the job because, “It just didn’t work out with the money.” Contract terms weren’t disclosed.
The Rams fired Martz on January 2, three day after St. Louis finished 6-10. He sat out the last 11 games recovering from endocarditis, a bacterial infection of a heart valve, but has been cleared to return to coaching.
Martz led St. Louis to the playoffs in four of his five full seasons, including a Super Bowl after the 2001 season, and helped the franchise win the 2000 Super Bowl as offensive coordinator. The Rams went 51-29 in the regular season and 54-33 overall during his five full seasons as head coach.
St. Louis ranked among the NFL’s top 10 teams in total offense in six of the past seven years, ranking first from 1999-2001. The Rams’ passing offense hasn’t ranked below fifth in the league since 1999, and was first from 1999-2001.
The 54-year-old Martz also interviewed for head coaching openings in New Orleans and Oakland.
