Tom Brady said he’s retiring “for good” on Wednesday morning. Mike Martz competed in the Super Bowl against a young Brady, and to this day is amazed at the longevity of the competitive spirit he saw that day in 2002. Martz later explains how Patrick Mahomes may also prove to have that level of greatness.
Mike Martz
Super Bowl Champion Head Coach
Mike Martz is a former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, most notably for the St. Louis Rams. Martz was the OC for the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” offense in 1999 when they won the Super Bowl.
Martz began his 38-season coaching career as an assistant at seven colleges and universities from 1974-1991 after breaking in at Bullard High School in Fresno, California. His first job in the NFL came in 1992 as quarterbacks coach for the Rams while they still were in Los Angeles before moving the St. Louis. For 1995-96 in St. Louis, Martz was wide receivers coach and helped Hall of Famer Issac Bruce break out for 119 catches and 1,781 yards in the 1995 season.
After a two-year stint in Washington as quarterbacks coach, Martz returned to the Rams in 1999 as Dick Vermeil’s offensive coordinator. Despite losing starting quarterback Trent Green to a knee injury in preseason, Martz and the Rams had the No. 1 offense in the NFL, scoring the fourth-most points in NFL history (526). Vermeil and Martz placed their faith in untested QB Kurt Warner, who wound up NFL MVP that season.
After Vermeil’s retirement in 2000, Martz moved up to head coach of the Rams. In Martz’s second season at the helm, the Rams had a 14-2 record and Warner again was league MVP. The Rams lost Super Bowl XXXVI to New England.
After his tenure with the Rams ended, Martz went on to be offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions (2006-2007), San Francisco 49ers (2008), and Chicago Bears (2010-2011).
In college, Martz played tight end at San Diego Mesa College, Cal-Santa Barbara, and Fresno State.
Martz is married to his James Madison High School sweetheart, Julie.
Tom Brady Brought Different Energy to Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI
Tom Brady brought a different level of intensity to the football field that was evident from his first season. Mike Martz reflects on what it was like to go against Brady in his first Super Bowl appearance and what set the quarterback apart from his peers.
Now You Know: 49ers’ Purdy Could’ve Avoided Costly Hit vs. Eagles
Brock Purdy could have stepped up in the pocket and avoided the hit that knocked him out. Mike Martz explains why it was not a result of faulty play design but rather poor execution by Purdy that ended the rookie quarterback’s day.
Kelce Is ‘Beast’ Jaguars Couldn’t Stop Despite Physical Approach
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce broke the NFL postseason single-game receptions record for a tight end with 14 catches against the Jaguars in Kansas City’s Divisional Round win on Saturday. Mike Martz says the Jaguars could not stop Kelce despite trying to be physical with him at the line of scrimmage.
Jaguars’ Offensive Game Plan Undone by Late-Game Mistakes
Two late turnovers killed the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Divisional Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Mike Martz says the Jaguars had the right game plan on offense, but the late-game mistakes were their undoing.
Cracking the Code: How to Identify, Attack Specific Defensive Schemes
What is the focal point of the chess match that begins when a quarterback breaks the huddle? How do offenses quickly diagnose and attack what defenses are showing them? Jordan Vanek poses these and other questions to Mike Martz, the architect of “The Greatest Show on Turf”.
Jaguars’ Second-Half Adjustments Pave Way for Massive Comeback
The Jaguars’ halftime adjustments, including a shift to up-tempo play-calling, were key to their historic second-half comeback against the Chargers, Mike Martz says. Those tweaks and coach Doug Pederson’s even-keeled demeanor were crucial to Jacksonville’s success.
Conservative Chargers Failed to Land Knockout Punch Against Jaguars
Up 27-0 late in the first half, with the Jaguars on the ropes in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs, the Los Angeles Chargers went conservative, allowing Jacksonville to gain momentum and eventually pull off the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason history.
Explaining Trevor Lawrence’s Four First-Half Interceptions
Mike Martz explains the defensive adjustments Asante Samuel Jr. and the Chargers made to confuse Trevor Lawrence and force four first-half interceptions.
Led by Brady, Herbert and Mahomes, NFL Playoffs Full of ‘Generational’ QBs
After almost 20 years of coaching in the college ranks, I got my first job in the NFL as the quarterbacks assistant with the Rams in 1992. The late, great Ernie Zampese was the offensive coordinator in St. Louis at the time. I asked Ernie one day how he evaluated quarterbacks. “Michael, there are three […]