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Hall of Famer Matthews joins coaching staff

By Nick Scurfield
February 27, 2009 Comments (0) | Avg. Rating
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Credit: Getty Images
Matthews was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Houston Oilers Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews has been hired as an offensive assistant on the Texans' coaching staff, the team announced today.

Matthews, 47, is widely considered to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2007 after being named to 14 career Pro Bowls and 12 All-Pro teams.

He will begin his coaching career from humbler ranks.

"He's going to do a lot of grunt work for us on the offensive side of the ball, breaking down film," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "He's going to draw a lot of run pictures for Alex (Gibbs) and John (Benton) and take over that role. But I think the biggest thing is he's going to be a great sounding board for all of us offensively in what we do.

"Naturally, his expertise is playing up front, so he'll be able to lend a hand from that standpoint. He'll be able to help our snappers on special teams – that's something he did for years. But I think we'll all pull from him. I wouldn't be surprised if our defense pulls from him. Just another quality person on our staff."

"We're getting a legend in this town, a guy that's been a part of Houston sports for a long, long time."

- Head coach Gary Kubiak
Matthews was an All-American at USC before the Oilers drafted him ninth overall in 1983. He retired in 2001 having played in more games (296) than any NFL player, excluding kickers and punters, and more seasons (19) than any offensive lineman. He started at every position on the offensive line during his playing career.

Matthews' brother Clay also played 19 seasons in the NFL, and his nephew, Clay Matthews III, is a top linebacker prospect in the 2009 draft.

"I can't tell you how fired up I am about this," Matthews said in a Houston Chronicle report. "I love Houston, and I wanted to stay in Houston, and this gives me a chance to do that. I've been watching the Texans, and I think they're on the brink of something special. I wanted to be part of it. I'm excited about where Mr. (Bob) McNair and Gary have this team headed. I want to help any way I can."

Kubiak has known Matthews since they played together in the 1983 Hula Bowl. He said that Matthews had been in contact with him for the past couple of years to express his desire to get into coaching.

"He's been coaching his kids through high school and those types of things," Kubiak said. "I think we kind of found a common ground to bring him in here and come to work for us next year and give him a lot of things to do to help our staff out and see if this is something that he wants to pursue further.

"We're getting a legend in this town, a guy that's been a part of Houston sports for a long, long time. It'll be good for all of us as coaches to pick his brain as a former player. But I think the number one thing that stands out is he's a quality individual, so we'll all be better because of him being around here."

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