Brian Billick

Brian Harold Billick (born February 28, 1954) is an American former football coach and commentator.

Billick was selected in the 11th round with the 295th overall pick of the 1977 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

After being released by the 49ers, he was signed and then released by the Dallas Cowboys; he retired as a player without playing in a National Football League game.

In 1977, after being cut by the 49ers, Billick appeared as a contestant on TV's Match Game PM.

He later returned to his hometown of Redlands, California, and served as a volunteer wide receivers coach for the University of Redlands football team (NAIA), under coach Frank Serrao.

That season, he also split time as an assistant coach at Redlands High School.

Billick said he coached the high school team's practice from 2 to 4 p.m., then headed over to the university for the college practice.

Billick worked as a graduate assistant at Brigham Young for one season (1978) before joining the 49ers as the assistant director of public relations for two years (1979–1980).

He returned to coaching with San Diego State University, serving as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for five seasons (1981–1985) under Doug Scovil.

After being named the offensive coordinator of Utah State University, Billick improved the second-worst offense in Division I-A into a top-10 offense in three seasons (1986–1988).

Billick was then hired as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach at Stanford by Dennis Green, serving both roles for three seasons (1989–91).

Billick, following newly named Vikings head coach Denny Green, was hired as an assistant coach by the Vikings for the 1992 season.

The Vikings made the playoffs during six of the seven seasons (1992–1998) that Billick spent with the team, and set several offensive records in the process.

He was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 1994 to 1998; the team broke the NFL scoring record in the 1998 season.

In 1998, Minnesota set an NFL record for most points scored in a season (556) (which has since been broken by the 2007 Patriots and the 2013 Broncos), and set a team record with 41 touchdown passes.

His work under Minnesota head coach Dennis Green put Billick in the Bill Walsh coaching tree.

He then spent nine seasons as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007.

Billick became the second head coach in Baltimore Ravens history on January 20, 1999 when he was appointed to replace Ted Marchibroda.

He had an 85–67 record in nine seasons (1999–2007) with the team, including 5–3 in the playoffs.

He won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants.

Although Billick had the opportunity to interview for the head coaching job of the reactivated Cleveland Browns and was rumored to be their top candidate, he chose to interview with the Ravens first.

He signed with Baltimore in under 24 hours after his initial interview.

In his first season with the Ravens, Billick led the team to its first non-losing record (8–8) in the franchise's four-year history.

The next season, the Ravens finished with a 12–4 record and earned their first playoff berth.

Prior to reaching the playoffs, Billick forbade his players from using either the term "playoffs" or the term "Super Bowl," with the idea of keeping them focused on winning each game instead of on a more distant prize.

Billick felt this approach would help them reach that goal, and went so far as to fine Tony Siragusa for violating the rule.

In response, the players borrowed the term "Festivus" from the television series Seinfeld for the playoffs, and the term Festivus Maximus for the Super Bowl.

When they reached the playoffs, Billick lifted this ban.

The Ravens took advantage of their vaunted defense, which allowed an NFL record-low 165 points in the regular season (for a point differential of 168; the Ravens also led the league in turnover differential at +23) during the playoffs to advance to Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants.

It was a blowout 34–7 victory, giving Billick his only Super Bowl victory.

On January 28, 2001, Billick won Super Bowl XXXV as the Ravens' head coach in a 34–7 victory over the New York Giants.

It was the Ravens' first Super Bowl appearance.

He played both football and basketball at Redlands High School; the school retired his football jersey number in 2001 and inducted him into the school's hall of fame in 2004.

Billick was teammates with future Major League Baseball player Julio Cruz on the school's basketball team.

Billick started his college career playing linebacker at the United States Air Force Academy.

He transferred to Brigham Young University after his freshman year, where he played tight end.

In his senior season, Billick earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors and an All-America honorable mention.

Billick led the Ravens to a 10–6 record and a victory over the Miami Dolphins in a 2001 wild card playoff game before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round.

He was inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor in 2019.

Brian Billick was born in Fairborn, Ohio and grew up in the city of Redlands, California with five siblings.