HEAD COACH CANDIDATE CHRIS TABOR
Coaching Career Quick Snapshot… INTERIM HEAD COACH • Chicago Bears, week 8 vs San Francisco SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR • Carolina Panthers, 2022 – Present • Chicago Bears, 2018 – 2021 • Cleveland Browns, 2011 – 2017 ASSISTANT SPECIAL TEAMS COACH • Chicago Bears, 2008-2010 • Coordinator, Dave Toub 3 • Western Michigan, 2006-2007 • STC, RB • Utah State, 2002-2005 • Asst. Head Coach/WR, RB, STC • Culver-Stockton, 2001 • Head Coach • University of Missouri, 1997 – 2000 • RB, AST, OGA • Central Methodist College, 1995– 1996 • OC • Hutchinson Community College, 1994 • RB NFL Experience College Experience
There’s a reason why Coach Tabor has been among the lone staff members to be retained throughout 4 different head coaches in Cleveland and now 2 in Carolina.* He’s not only a great coach, he develops unmatched buy-in by the entire roster with his genuine authenticity and passion. He’s the guy everyone in the building trusts and will follow into battle without questioning a thing. His character is exactly what every NFL team should look for when building the profile of the next Head Coach. And while every coach at the NFL level knows the X’s & O’s at an elite level, Chris has always been able to apply that knowledge, along with his ability to connect with his players to inspire record-setting and highly ranked performances at every stop in his journey. More on those to follow! A leader on and off the field. The time is now. * Cleveland: Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson; Carolina: Matt Rhule, Frank Reich
Special Teams Experience Translates to Great Success https://www.the33rdteam.com/category/breakdowns/studycoaches-with-a-special-teams-background-have-been-highlysuccessful/ MAIN TAKEAWAY “The data observed since 1991 strongly suggests that it would be wise to take a step back from the traditional approach in the interview and hiring process and give serious thought and consideration (to a coach with special teams experience) when anointing the next head coach of your franchise. Take the time to turn over one more stone and look at just one more candidate, an individual who has cut their teeth and earned their stripes as a special teams coordinator. ” The 33rd Team (www.the33rdteam.com) is comprised of former NFL coaches, executives and players. The former executives contributing include Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian, Joe Banner, Mike Tannenbaum, Rick Spielman, Jeff Diamond and TJ McCreight. The former coaches contributing include Bill Parcells, Bill Cower, Mike Zimmer, Dave Wannstedt, Marvin Lewis, and Wade Phillips to name a few.
Do you want to win the January Press Conference, or do you want to win GAMES? • They are one of the few people in the building who regularly addresses the entire team, not only the players but the entire staff as well • Other than the head coach, the Special Teams Coordinator is the only coach who has to know the entire roster and be able to manage the weekly puzzle of the 53, 48 and even 16 practice squad spots. He must understand every aspect of the roster on a daily basis. The ability to most effectively maximize the roster and positional allocation is paramount to the Special Teams Coordinator’s success. • There is no other coach in the building who has to fully understand and be prepared to instantly assess and react to situational football, often advising the head coach on those items on game day. Everything from rules interpretations to time management, clock management, timeouts, and challenges. • Special Teams Coordinators are the most highly organized, detail minded coaches on staff, able to juggle a seemingly infinite number of responsibilities. They have to be to be successful…they manage no fewer than 7 full teams, including KO, KOR, Hands, P, PR, PAT/FG, PAT/FG Block, all with their own unique depth charts and vital role in the outcome of the game. This isn’t including special situations like free kicks/kick returns , etc. • Special Teams Coordinators must be adept at anticipating and adopting to change unlike any other coach on staff, whether it be a constantly changing roster composition or in-game situation. • A Special Teams Coordinator’s pre-draft and pre-free agency player evaluations must touch on nearly every position on the field, with the possible exception of the QB, to identify transferrable skill sets which would be beneficial on Teams, unlike any other position coach’s scope of evaluation for players at the position they coach. In addition, when the hot Offensive Coordinator or Defensive Coordinator is hired as the head coach, history has proven that creates unintended consequences, including: • Having a roster bias on ”his” side of the ball • Having a time and resource allocation bias on “his” side of the ball • With much of his time now being spent on oversight and being the face, the “hot” offense or defense he was hired for turns into a watered down or interpretive version run by assistants or coordinators Being a Special Teams Coordinator is perhaps the best on-the-job training for a Head Coach position that a coach can get.
In 2022, Coach Tabor’s Special Teams Units ranked #4 in the NFL overall (Gosselin Rankings) and their 5 Blocked Kicks led the NFL. New Panther’s punter, Johnny Hekker had a rebound season, finishing #1 in the NFL in punts Inside-the-20 and #3 in Net Punting Average. After losing starting kicker, Zane Gonzales to seasonending injury on August 27, the Panthers signed Eddy Pineiro, who himself was coming off injury from the prior season. Pineiro had a career-year under Coach Tabor, with Pineiro hitting on 33 of 35 FG attempts for a full season career-best 94.3%., the highest mark for a Panthers kicker since 2017. 2022 Season Special Teams Coordinator
Coach Tabor had a Return Specialist earn Pro Bowl honors in each of his four seasons in Chicago • Jakeem Grant (2021) • Cordarrelle Patterson (2019, 2020) • Tarik Cohen (2018) In 2020, his work with K, Cairo Santos resulted in a franchise-record for FG accuracy (93.8%) and the most consecutive FG made overall in a single season (27). In 2019, he helped veteran P, Pat O’Donnell set the Bears single-season franchise record with a 40.7 yard Net Average. 2018-21 Seasons Special Teams Coordinator
2021 Season Interim Head Coach “Tabor seemed poised and ready for the job. If he’s ever interviewed for a head coaching job in his career, he’ll be able reference the overall experience as a positive one, despite the outcome.” Coach Tabor was named interim Head Coach of the Chicago Bears for a week 8 tilt against the San Francisco 49ers. The Bears were on the short end of a 33-22 game, but the experience gained and feedback from all involved left no doubt that Coach Tabor can lead a team in the NFL to great success.
Throughout the tenure of four different head coaches, the one bright spot each season was special teams. Over Coach Tabor’s 7 years in the Dawg Pound, his unit’s aggregate 7-year records and accomplishments included: • P, Britton Colquitt set a Browns franchise record for highest Net Punting Average • 6 AFC Special Teams Players of the Week • #4 in KO Coverage (allowing just 21.8 YPR) • #5 in Fewest Punt Touchbacks • #7 in Punt Return Average (9.9 YPR), and his units ranked #1 in the NFL over the 2011-2015 span • #7 in Fewest KOR Yards Allowed • #9 in Total Return Yards • #10 in Punt Return TD’s (4) 2011-17 Seasons Special Teams Coordinator
2008-2010 Seasons Special Teams Assistant Coach Tabor learned his craft under the tutelage of one of the best Special Teams Coordinators to coach in the NFL, Dave Toub (currently the Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for the Chiefs). In his three seasons with the Bears, Coach Tabor assisted on units which were the premier units in the NFL, including: • #1 overall ranking in 2010 (Gosselin ranking) • #6 overall ranking in 2009 (Gosselin ranking) • Top 5 ranking in 6 special teams categories (2009) • Top 5 ranking in 8 special teams categories (2008) • Pro Bowl Returners in Devin Hester (2010) and Johnny Knox (2009), and #1 KOR in the NFL in Danieal Manning (2008) • Devin Hester’s 17.1 Punt Return Average in 2010 is an all-time NFL record • #1 in Punt Return Average & #2 in KO Return Average (2010) • #3 in KO Return Average (2009) • #1 in Blocked Kicks & KO Return Average; #2 in Start after Kickoff & Lowest Punt Return Average Allowed (2008)
Get to know Chris better by checking out a few clickable video links (All images are clickable) Importance of Special Teams 04/21/2022 Makeup of the Special Teams Units, 07/07/2023 Need for Open Competition 05/16/2023 Special Teams Contributors 11/17/2022 Playing in Colder Weather 12/15/2022 Makeup of the Special Teams Units, 08/09/2022 Post-Interim Head Coach Game 10/31/2021 Everyone wearing a helmet has to contribute, 12/09/2021
In the News • https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/chris-tabor-discusses-the-decision-made-on-eddy-pineiro-vs-zane-gonzalez (6/06/23) • https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-retain-key-offensive-line-special-teams-coaches (2/15/23) • https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-johnny-hekker-jj-jansen-194526822.html (2/02/23) • https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/31/panthers-retain-chris-tabor-james-campen-analysis/ (1/31/23) • https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/30/report-panthers-hc-candidates-retain-chris-tabor-james-campen/ (1/30/23) • https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/20/panthers-rick-gosselins-2022-nfl-special-teams-rankings-chris-tabor-johnny-hekkereddy-pineiro/ (1/20/23) • https://www.panthers.com/news/chris-tabor-familiar-specialists-johnny-hekker-zane-gonzalez (4/21/22) • https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/lists/panthers-special-teams-coordinator-chris-tabor-accomplishments/ (1/28/22) • https://catcrave.com/2022/01/28/carolina-panthers-getting-chris-tabor/ (1/28/22) • https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-hire-chris-tabor-as-special-teams-coordinator (1/27/22) • https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-chicago-bears-chris-tabor-matt-eberflus-rich-bisaccia-20220128- 7ooosyttznf3namcztlorig3ta-story.html (1/27/22) • https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/panthers-interviewing-chris-tabor-for-st-coordinator (1/24/22) Get to know Chris better by checking out a few clickable media links (All links are clickable)
• Chris and his wife, Nikki have two daughters, Paityn, a soccer player at Lake Forest College and Lainey, a soccer player at Lake Forest High School • Bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College (Atchison, Kansas) in Physical Education with a Spanish minor • Master’s degree from the Columbia College (MO) in Education • A native of St. Joseph, Missouri 15 Personal FAMILY PHOTO HERE
16 COACHING EXPERIENCE CAROLINA PANTHERS 2022 - PRESENT Special Teams Coordinator • 2022 accomplishments included: o Special Teams units ranked #4 in the NFL overall (Gosselin) o Ranked #1 in FG%, Blocked Kicks (4), and Punts Inside-the-20 o Ranked #3 in NET Punting CHICAGO BEARS 2018 - 2021 Special Teams Coordinator • Served as interim Head Coach in week 8 vs. San Francisco while Matt Nagy was recovering from Covid. • Coached a Bears returner to the Pro Bowl each of his four seasons in Chicago • 2021 accomplishments included: o Special Teams units ranked #6 in the NFL overall (ProFootballFocus) o Bears had the 2nd most kickoff returns over 20 yards and over 40 yards, while ranking 4th in the NFL in punt return average being just one of 2 teams to return a punt for a TD during the entire 2021 season o For the fourth year in a row, one of Tabor's special teams players earned first team Pro Bowl honors, this time returner Jakeem Grant who averaged 13.9 yards per punt return in Chicago. • 2020 accomplishments included: o Coaching kicker, Cairo Santo to Bears franchise records for FG accuracy (93.8%) and most consecutive FG made overall and in a single season (27) o Coaching returner, Cordarrelle Patterson to an NFL-leading kickoff return yardage mark for the second consecutive season, and finishing first in average per return (29.1); Patterson also set the Bears record for longest kickoff return with a 104-yard TD return in week 10 vs Minnesota • 2019 accomplishments included: o Coaching returner Corderrelle Patterson to NFL Pro Bowl honors, as he led the NFL in kickoff return yards and finished 2nd in average yards per return (29.5) o Coaching punter, Pat O’Donnell to a Bears single season net punting average record (40.7) o Coaching first-year kicker Eddy Pineiro to the third highest FG percentage for a first-year player in Bears history (82.1%) • 2018 accomplishments included: o Coaching returner Tarik Cohen to NFL Pro Bowl honors, as he led the NFL in punt return yards (411) CLEVELAND BROWNS 2011 - 2017 Special Teams Coordinator Hired in 2011 by Head Coach Pat Shurmur, Tabor’s career in Cleveland spanned 4 head coaches (Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine&Hue Jackson) Under Tabor's watch,the Browns were the only teamin theNFL to have earned atleast one AFC Special Teams Player ofthe Week award each season from2011-2016 2017 – coached Britton Colquitt and Punt Coverage unit to another Brown’s franchise record for NET Punting Aggregate Overall NFL Rankings, 2011-2017 seasons: • 6 AFC special teams Players of the Week • #4 in kickoff coverage average (allowing just 21.8 yards per return) • #5 in fewest punting touchbacks (29) • #7 in in punt return average (9.9 yards per return); (#1 in NFL 2011-2015); and • #7 in fewest kickoff return yards allowed (5,090 yards allowed) • #9 in total return yardage • gained (combined punt & kickoff returns) • #10 in punt return touchdowns (4) 2015 Cleveland Browns Accomplishments: • #1 in net punting average against • #3 in gross punting average against • #4 in punt return average • #4 punt returner in NFL • #5 in total return yards • #5 in kickoff return yards • #6 in kickoff return average • #8 in kickoff coverage average • #8 in gross punting average • #9 in field goal percentage 2014 Cleveland Browns Accomplishments: • #2 in kickoff defense drive start average • #8 in punt coverage • #9 kickoff coverage average 2013 Cleveland Browns Accomplishments: • #8 punt returner in the NFL • #10 in punt return • 2 different players with 50+ yard kickoff returns in the same game 2012 Cleveland Browns Accomplishments: • #1 in kickoff defense drive start average • #1 in field goal percentage • #2 in kickoff defense drive start average • #2 in total return yards • #3 in punt return average • #4 kickoff returner in the NFL • #6 punt returner in the NFL • #8 in kickoff return average • Coached Pro Bowl kicker Phil Dawson and Pro Bowl returner Josh Cribbs • Coached All Rookie Special Teams player Johnson Bademosi • Cleveland Browns franchise record 93-yard punt return 2011 Cleveland Browns Accomplishments: • #2 in kickoff return offensive drive start average
17 COACHING EXPERIENCE Cont’d CHICAGO BEARS 2008 - 2010 Assistant Special Teams Coach • 2010 - Helped Bears to #1 Overall Special Teams ranking (FootballOutsiders.com) • 2010 - Bears ranked #1 in NFL in Punt Returns and #2 in NFL in Kickoff Returns • 2010 - Coached Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Hester to a 17.1 Punt Return Average, #1 in the NFL and an All-Time NFL Record • 2010 - Coached Devin Hester to a 35.6-yard Kickoff Return Average • 2009 - Helped guide the Bears to Top 10 rankings in 10 of 22 special teams categories, Top 5 in 6 categories • 2009 - Ranked #6 in the NFL in Overall Special Teams (Dallas Morning News) • 2009 - Coached Pro-Bowl Returner Johnny Knox • 2009 - Ranked #3 in the NFL in Kickoff Return Average • 2008 - Ranked #1 in the NFL in Blocked Kicks • 2008 - Ranked #1 in the NFL in punts Inside-the-20 • 2008 - Ranked #1 in the NFL in Kickoff Return Average (Danieal Manning 29.7 yards return average) • 2008 - Ranked #2 in the NFL in Starting Point After Kickoff (32 yard line) • 2008 - Ranked #2 in the NFL in Punt Coverage (allowed just 5.6 yards per return) • 2008 - Helped guide the Bears to Top 10 rankings in 11 of 22 special teams categories, Top 5 in 8 categories WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY 2006 - 2007 Running Backs Coach / Special Teams Coordinator • 2006 - Coached a 1,000-yard running back in Mark Bonds (1,082) and freshman All-American Returner, Brandon West • 2006 - Bronco special teams had 6 Blocked Kicks on the season • 2006 - Ranked #6 in Nation in Kickoff Coverage and #10 in Nation in Punt Return Average • 2007 - International Bowl in Toronto, Canada UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY 2002 - 2005 Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach (2002-2004) Special Teams Coordinator / Running Backs Coach (2005) • 2002 - Coached Kevin Curtis, 3rd Round NFL Draft Selection ofthe St. Louis Ramsin 2003 • 2004 - Coached Kevin Robinson, Sporting News Freshman All-American CULVER STOCKTON COLLEGE 2001 Head Coach • Set school record for Wins, TDs, Points, and Total Yards in a season • Total Defense ranked 17th in the Nation, while the Pass Defense was ranked 10th UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 1997 - 2000 Running Backs Coach / Special Teams Assistant Offensive Graduate Assistant • 1997 & 1998 – Ranked 10th in Nation in Rushing Offense • 1998 - Insight.com Bowl • 1997 - Holiday Bowl • 1997 - Set School Record for Scoring Offense CENTRAL METHODIST COLLEGE 1995 - 1996 Offensive Coordinator / Recruiting Coordinator HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1994 Running Backs Coach CONTACT PHONE (224) 548-9228 cell EMAIL [email protected]
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