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GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers
didn't have to look far to find their new offensive
coordinator, promoting quarterbacks coach Tom Clements to
replace Joe Philbin.
Clements has coached the
Packers' quarterbacks since 2006, Mike McCarthy's first year
in Green Bay. Philbin left to become the Miami Dolphins' head
coach last month.
"Tom has been an integral
part of our success and our staff, making it an obvious
decision to promote him to offensive coordinator,"
McCarthy said in a statement. "He has earned this
opportunity and we look forward to continued offensive success
in 2012."
The offensive-minded McCarthy
calls his own plays, but relies on his offensive coordinator
to plan during the week and help make adjustments during
games.
Packers quarterback Aaron
Rodgers has gone out of his way to credit Clements for helping
his development. Clements' name was linked to open jobs in the
NFL and college football in recent months.
"I'm happy that it's
happened and I'm happy for Joe that he's a head coach, and I'm
glad I was able to step into his place," Clements said.
"I've been a coordinator before, only for a few years.
I've always wanted to get back to doing that and I'm thankful
that it's here in Green Bay."
Before coming to Green Bay,
Clements was the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from
2004-05.
Clements has 19 seasons of
coaching experience, including 15 in the NFL.
He was a three-year starter at
quarterback for Notre Dame, guiding the Irish to a national
championship in 1973. He played 12 seasons in the Canadian
Football League.
Clements earned a law degree
from Notre Dame in 1986 and practiced law for five years
before beginning his coaching career as an assistant with the
Irish.
Clements has been quarterbacks
coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-03), Kansas City
Chiefs (2000) and New Orleans Saints (1997-99).
Under Clements, Rodgers has
passed 17,037 yards in his first four seasons as a starter.
In 2011, Rodgers set the NFL
single-season record for passer rating (122.5) and set team
records with 45 touchdown passes, 4,643 yards passing and a
68.3 completion percentage.
Clements has also helped
develop backup Matt Flynn, who is expected to draw interest
from other teams looking for a new starter in the offseason.
"I think it's a great
opportunity," Clements said. "We have a young team.
We've had success over the past couple of years. We still have
a lot of room to grow and I'm happy to be a part of it."
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