Bob Wylie

Bob Wylie

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Date of birth	(1951-02-16) February 16, 1951
Place of birth	West Warwick, Rhode Island
Career information
Position(s)	Offensive line coach
College	Roger Williams College
Career history
As coach
1980–1982	Brown Offensive line coach
1983–1984	Holy Cross Offensive line coach
1985–1987	Ohio Offensive coordinator
1988–1989	Colorado State Offensive line coach
1990–1991	New York Jets Tight ends coach
1992–1995	Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive line coach
1996	Cincinnati Offensive line coach
1997–1998	Cincinnati Bengals Tight ends coach
1999–2003	Chicago Bears Offensive line coach
2004	Arizona Cardinals Offensive line coach
2005–2006	Syracuse Offensive line coach
2007–2008	Winnipeg Blue Bombers Offensive line coach
2009	Saskatchewan Roughriders Offensive line coach
2010	Denver Broncos Offensive line coach
2011	Oakland Raiders Offensive line coach
2014–present	Winnipeg Blue Bombers Offensive line coach

Bob Wylie (born (1951-02-16)February 16, 1951) is an American football coach who is currently the offensive line coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.^[1] Previously he served as O-line coach under head coach Hue Jackson for the Oakland Raiders.^[2]

Coaching career

Bob Wylie, who has more than 30 years of coaching experience, was named the Oakland Raiders offensive line coach on February 1, 2011. During his first year with the Raiders, the offensive line improved from 29th in the NFL in 2010 to 4th in 2011 in total sacks allowed and 7th in sacks per pass play. The line also improved in rushing yards from 3.1 yards on 1st down to 4.9 yards and had the leading rusher up to the injury which sidelined RB Darren McFadden. The Raiders finished the season ranked 7th in total rushing yards, 6th in number of 10+ yards rushing plays, 2nd in number of 20+ yard rushing plays, tied for 3rd in rushing plays of over 40 yards and tied for 8th in rushes over 50 yards. In addition, the Raider’s offensive line cut QB hits in half going from 121 QB hits in the 2010 season to 62 QB hits in 2011. The line was 91% efficient on the Goal line and 86% efficient in short yardage. The Raiders were 1st in 2min scoring points and only gave up 2 sacks. The line only gave up 12 out of the 25 sacks in 2011.

The offensive line received the Madden Protectors Award in Week 6 for their performance against the Cleveland Browns and rookie guard Stefen Wisniewski was named to the PFW All-Rookie Team. They also paved the way for RB Michael Bush to rush for 977 yards and seven touchdowns.

Prior to his position with the Raiders, Wylie was one of the offensive line coaches for the Denver Broncos^[3] (2010). With the Broncos, the offensive line ranked sixth in the NFL, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, during the second half of the season. The club’s second-half rushing yards per game improvement of 58.6 yards per game ranked second in the league. Wylie joined the Broncos after working as an offensive line coach in the Canadian Football League with Saskatchewan (2009) and Winnipeg (2007–08). Wylie owns the unique distinction of instructing at five different levels of football. He has coached at the Pop Warner, junior high school, high school, college and professional levels.

During his three years as an offensive line coach in the CFL, Wylie was part of two teams that played in the Grey Cup – Saskatchewan (2009) and Winnipeg (2007).

Believed to be the only assistant coach in CFL history to appear on two Grey Cup teams within his first three years in the league, Wylie coached players to All-Star appearances at every offensive line position (tackle, guard, and center) in the CFL.

Despite four starters missing significant portions of time, Wylie’s offensive line with Saskatchewan in 2009 helped the club rank near the top of several offensive statistical categories en route to winning its first division title in 33 years. His effort with the Roughriders followed two years coaching a Winnipeg offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the CFL from 2007–08, leading the league in ’07 and ranking second in ’08 while using 14 different starters over the stretch.

Before coaching the offensive line at Syracuse University^[4] from 2005-06, Wylie spent eight consecutive years coaching in the NFL. He instructed the Cardinals offensive line in 2004 with his unit blocking for the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, during his final pro season. From 1999-2003,Wylie coached the Bears offensive line and helped the club allow an NFL-low 17 sacks in 2001 that propelled the team to an NFC Central title. Bears center Olin Kreutz earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections (2001-03) under Wylie while tackle James Williams was named to his first Pro Bowl of his career in 2001.

Wylie’s offensive line also helped Chicago running back Anthony Thomas earned Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after he rushed for 1,183 yards in 2001. Thomas’ effort marked the seventh time a player totaled at least 1,000 rushing yards in a season with Wylie on staff.

From 1997-98, Wylie was the Bengals tight ends coach and oversaw a group that blocked for running back Corey Dillon, who broke the NFL single-game rushing record, during his consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He had a one-year stint as the University of Cincinnati’s offensive line coach in 1996, a year in which the Bearcats led the Conference USA in rushing and featured four linemen who earned postseason honors, including tackle Jason Fabini. Fabini was one of five players coached by Wylie selected in the NFL Draft.

During four season as Tampa Bay’s offensive line coach from 1992–95, Wylie’s group helped running back Eric Rhett become only the fifth player in NFL history to post consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his first years in the league (1994–95). He also coached Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Muñoz in 1993, his final pro season.

Wylie’s NFL coaching career began with a two-year stint as the Jets tight ends coach from 1990-91. Before entering the NFL coaching ranks, Wylie coached for 10 season at the collegiate level, handling offensive line duties at Brown University (1980–82), College of the Holy Cross (1983–84) and Colorado State University (1988–89) in addition to working as offensive coordinator at Ohio University (1985–87). At CSU, he worked under NCAA Hall of Fame Coach Earle Bruce. A native of West Warwick, R.I., Wylie was a teacher and administrator in his hometown from 1973-80. Wylie played linebacker at the college level in Colorado for three years before transferring to Roger Williams College, where he received a bachelor's degree in American Studies. He also earned a master's degree in Economics from the University of Rhode Island in 1975.

Inducted into the West Warwick High School Hall of Fame in 1999, the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, and the Rhode Island Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Wylie serves as a consultant for EA Sports on the 2014 Madden game, and has served as an executive member of the National Football League Assistant Coaches Association. Wylie received the NFL’s Extra Effort Award in 2001 for his work with Chicago-area youth. He is also the organizer of the annual Offensive Line Clinic that takes place in Cincinnati and features some of the nation’s top coaches.

Personal information

Wylie is a licensed pilot, an amateur magician and accomplished musician. Wylie has one daughter (Jennifer) and one grandson (Wylie).

References