ESPN is reporting that New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has agreed to become the next head coach at Penn State University, a development that would take Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements out of the running for a job he’s shown interest in.
Clements, a Pennsylvania native, had interviewed for the job on at least two different occasions, according to the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette. They reported that Penn State was welcoming Clements for a second interview sometime this week after a Skype interview towards the beginning of the process.
O’Brien interviewed on Thursday and the process of his hiring sped up from there.
The move would make Clements’ role as the Packers quarterbacks coach safe, for now. He still has the rest of the week to take on any potential interviews from other teams or programs.
A factor in Clements’ future in Green Bay could be the career progression of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who interviewed in Kansas City on Wednesday and will in Miami sometime this weekend. Each interview will be for the respective team’s vacant head coaching position. While still a long shot, any potential hire of Philbin as a head coach could open the door for Clements to become the Packers’ next offensive coordinator.
Clements has experience in the position, as Dick Jauron hired him to be the Bills’ offensive coordinator in 2004. He served two years in Buffalo before becoming the Packers’ quarterbacks coach when head coach Mike McCarthy arrived in 2006. Clements has held that position ever since.
But with Clements’ value sky rocketing alongside the meteoric development of both Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn under his watch, the Packers may need to promote the 58-year-old to keep him on the staff. Clements has earned the opportunity to advance back up the coaching ladder, if he so pleases.
For now, however, we know Clements will not be making the trip east to State College. Until we hear of any subsequent interviews or openings, his position with the Packers appears safe.
——————Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.
You can read more of Zach's Packers articles on AllGreenBayPackers.com.
Follow @zachkruse2——————
Though I’m happy to see him stay with the Packers for now, I’m a little bummed for Clements that he didn’t get the job.
I think that in time Clements will look at losing out on the Penn State position as a blessing in disguise.
Only a masochist would want to try and unwind that rat’s nest of a mess in “Happy Valley”.
Yet, it’s an incredible opportunity. As the saying goes, better to have tried and failed than never to have tried…
“In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.”
— Vince Lombardi
To bad for Tom , it sounded like he really wanted the position, With Flynn leaving, Clements staying is good news for the team. He can continue grooming Harrell and will have an opportunity to work with TTs new 3rd string youngster.
This article reminds me of how fortunate we are to have good coaching and to have great QBs. After watching Rodgers (and Flynn) shredding defenses all year, it was painful to watch QBs like Tebow trying to throw the ball.