Chuck Cecil
Encyclopedia
Charles Douglas "Chuck" Cecil (born November 8, 1964 in Red Bluff, California
), was the defensive coordinator
of the NFL's
Tennessee Titans
. He is also a former NFL
Pro Bowl
safety.
, California
. He graduated from Helix High School
in La Mesa, California
where he was a standout player on a defense which set a school record for fewest points allowed per game and won a state title. At and 150 lb (68 kg) (at the time), Cecil was considered too small to be a collegiate star and thus was not offered a scholarship out of high school. As Jym Davis' protege he thrived in the safety position while Jim and Foster Ridpath continued to lead Bobcat Country to countless wins and beautiful highlight films.
where he walked-on for the Arizona Wildcats football
team. He proved the recruiters wrong by eventually earning consensus All-America
and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors after his nine-interception
senior season. When Cecil left Arizona, he held the Pac-10 record for career interceptions, with 21 (Lamont Thompson
later broke the mark with 24), and set the Wildcats' school single-game record (and tied the Pac-10 record) with four interceptions against Stanford
in 1987.
In the 1986 game against rival the Arizona State University
Sun Devils, Cecil returned an interception 100 yards to notch a Wildcats victory. This play has been voted the greatest play in Wildcat football history.
He was inducted into the Wildcats' Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 2009. He also spent two seasons (1999–2000) as a television analyst for University of Arizona football games.
. Cecil was known for his thunderous tackling
and aggressive style during his time as a safety for the Packers (1988–1992), Cardinals (1993) and Oilers (1995), and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and garnered All-Madden status in 1992 when he recorded four interceptions and 102 tackles on the season. In 95 career games he totaled 400 tackles and 16 interceptions. During his years with the Packers, he earned the nickname "Scud" Cecil because of his hit-or-miss approach to tackling opponents. He often left his feet and led with his helmet, and much like the infamous missiles launched during the Gulf War - would occasionally miss completely or arrive late.
Cecil is regarded as among the most vicious hitters in National Football League history. Chuck Cecil was featured on the October 11, 1993 issue of Sports Illustrated
with the question: "Is Chuck Cecil Too Vicious for the NFL?" Many photos taken of Cecil during games showed him with a bloodied nose.
During much of his career, Cecil was forced to wear a "Gazoo Helmet"; a helmet
so named because it resembled the head of The Great Gazoo
, a recurring character in The Flintstones
animated series. The "Gazoo helmet" is actually a thick padding that fits on a helmet's shell to reduce the risk of receiving a concussion and reducing the risk of injury to opponents due to helmet-first hits, for which Chuck Cecil was fined numerous times. Despite the additional protection, recurring concussions forced Chuck Cecil into retirement.
position for the Tennessee Titans
under Jeff Fisher
, for whom he had played in his final season (when the team was the Houston Oilers). Cecil served as a defensive quality control assistant for three seasons. He was promoted in 2004, to work with the safeties and nickel backs. His responsibilities expanded in 2007 to cover all of the defensive backs.
On February 12, 2009, Cecil was named the Titan's defensive coordinator
, replacing the departed Jim Schwartz
, who had taken the position of Head Coach for the Detroit Lions
.
On October 3, 2010, during a game against the Denver Broncos
, Cecil gave NFL officials the middle-finger gesture
in an attempt to protest a neutral zone infraction call against one of his players. Live close-up video of Cecil was being aired at the time, and the gesture was broadcast without editing. For his inappropriate action, he was fined $40,000 by the league.
On January 20, 2011, it was announced that Cecil would not be retained as the Titans' defensive coordinator
. He was informed of this decision on January 18. The Titans ranked 26th in total yards allowed and 29th against the pass in the 2010 season. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/20/titans.cecil.ap/index.html#ixzz1Bd7qb0dK
On February 16, 2011, ESPN.com reported that Cecil will interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers to be their next secondary coach. He would fill the void left by Ray Horton when he departed to become the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors/_/date/20110216#8104
Red Bluff, California
Red Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 14,076 at the 2010 census, up from 13,147 at the 2000 census....
), was the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
of the NFL's
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He is also a former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
safety.
Early years
Cecil is a native of Red BluffRed Bluff, California
Red Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. The population was 14,076 at the 2010 census, up from 13,147 at the 2000 census....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He graduated from Helix High School
Helix High School
Helix High School, in La Mesa, California, is a charter high school built in 1952. It received its charter in 1998. Part of the Grossmont Union High School District, it serves a low to mid-level socioeconomic community and has a student body of approximately 2,400 pupils...
in La Mesa, California
La Mesa, California
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 57,065 at the 2010 census, up from 54,749 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1869 and officially incorporated as a city on February 16, 1912. Its official flower is the bougainvillea....
where he was a standout player on a defense which set a school record for fewest points allowed per game and won a state title. At and 150 lb (68 kg) (at the time), Cecil was considered too small to be a collegiate star and thus was not offered a scholarship out of high school. As Jym Davis' protege he thrived in the safety position while Jim and Foster Ridpath continued to lead Bobcat Country to countless wins and beautiful highlight films.
College
He attended the University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
where he walked-on for the Arizona Wildcats football
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
team. He proved the recruiters wrong by eventually earning consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors after his nine-interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
senior season. When Cecil left Arizona, he held the Pac-10 record for career interceptions, with 21 (Lamont Thompson
Lamont Thompson
Lamont Darnell Thompson is a safety who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
later broke the mark with 24), and set the Wildcats' school single-game record (and tied the Pac-10 record) with four interceptions against Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1987.
In the 1986 game against rival the Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
Sun Devils, Cecil returned an interception 100 yards to notch a Wildcats victory. This play has been voted the greatest play in Wildcat football history.
He was inducted into the Wildcats' Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2009. He also spent two seasons (1999–2000) as a television analyst for University of Arizona football games.
Professional
Cecil was selected by the Packers in the fourth round (89th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. Cecil was known for his thunderous tackling
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and aggressive style during his time as a safety for the Packers (1988–1992), Cardinals (1993) and Oilers (1995), and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and garnered All-Madden status in 1992 when he recorded four interceptions and 102 tackles on the season. In 95 career games he totaled 400 tackles and 16 interceptions. During his years with the Packers, he earned the nickname "Scud" Cecil because of his hit-or-miss approach to tackling opponents. He often left his feet and led with his helmet, and much like the infamous missiles launched during the Gulf War - would occasionally miss completely or arrive late.
Cecil is regarded as among the most vicious hitters in National Football League history. Chuck Cecil was featured on the October 11, 1993 issue of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
with the question: "Is Chuck Cecil Too Vicious for the NFL?" Many photos taken of Cecil during games showed him with a bloodied nose.
During much of his career, Cecil was forced to wear a "Gazoo Helmet"; a helmet
Football helmet
A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football. It consists of a hard plastic top with thick padding on the inside, a face mask made of one or more plastic bars, and a chinstrap. Some players add polycarbonate visors to their helmets, which are...
so named because it resembled the head of The Great Gazoo
The Great Gazoo
The Great Gazoo is a character from The Flintstones animated series. He first appeared on the show on October 29, 1965. The Great Gazoo was voiced by the late Harvey Korman.-Biography:...
, a recurring character in The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
animated series. The "Gazoo helmet" is actually a thick padding that fits on a helmet's shell to reduce the risk of receiving a concussion and reducing the risk of injury to opponents due to helmet-first hits, for which Chuck Cecil was fined numerous times. Despite the additional protection, recurring concussions forced Chuck Cecil into retirement.
Coaching career
In 2001 Cecil accepted a coachingCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
position for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
under Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
, for whom he had played in his final season (when the team was the Houston Oilers). Cecil served as a defensive quality control assistant for three seasons. He was promoted in 2004, to work with the safeties and nickel backs. His responsibilities expanded in 2007 to cover all of the defensive backs.
On February 12, 2009, Cecil was named the Titan's defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, replacing the departed Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz
Jim Schwartz is an American football head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.-Early life:Born just outside Baltimore, Maryland, Schwartz attended Mount Saint Joseph High School, an all male Catholic school, where he played football.Schwartz was a four-year letterman at...
, who had taken the position of Head Coach for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
On October 3, 2010, during a game against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Cecil gave NFL officials the middle-finger gesture
Finger (gesture)
In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"...
in an attempt to protest a neutral zone infraction call against one of his players. Live close-up video of Cecil was being aired at the time, and the gesture was broadcast without editing. For his inappropriate action, he was fined $40,000 by the league.
On January 20, 2011, it was announced that Cecil would not be retained as the Titans' defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. He was informed of this decision on January 18. The Titans ranked 26th in total yards allowed and 29th against the pass in the 2010 season. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/01/20/titans.cecil.ap/index.html#ixzz1Bd7qb0dK
On February 16, 2011, ESPN.com reported that Cecil will interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers to be their next secondary coach. He would fill the void left by Ray Horton when he departed to become the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors/_/date/20110216#8104
Personal
Cecil is married to author, columnist and television producer, Carrie Gerlach Cecil. The two have one daughter, Charli.Coaching tree
| Head Coach | Team | Capacity | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Fisher Jeff Fisher Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:... |
Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
defensive asst./quality control | 2001 2001 Tennessee Titans season The 2001 Tennessee Titans season was the Titans' 42nd season and their 32nd in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:* *... –2003 2003 Tennessee Titans season The 2003 Tennessee Titans season was the team's 44th season and their 34th in the National Football League. At 12–4 the Titans posted the 15th season with at least ten wins in the franchise's history dating to their Houston Oilers days... |
| safeties and nickel backs coach | 2004 2004 Tennessee Titans season The 2004 Tennessee Titans season was the 45th season the team was with the league. The team attempted to improve upon their previous output of 12–4, but was only able to win five games in 2004 and missed the playoffs.-Staff:-Schedule:-References:... –2006 2006 Tennessee Titans season The 2006 Tennessee Titans season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2005.-Offseason:In 2006, exciting news for the future came when in the 2006 NFL Draft, the Titans, with the third overall pick, chose Vince Young, star quarterback out of the University of Texas, and with... |
||
| defensive backs coach | 2007 2007 Tennessee Titans season The 2007 Tennessee Titans season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League, and their eleventh in Tennessee. They entered the season in an attempt to improve on their 8–8 record from 2006, along with attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since... –2008 2008 Tennessee Titans season The 2008 Tennessee Titans season was the 49th season for the team in the National Football League, their twelfth in Tennessee, and their tenth as the Titans. Despite being expected by most sportswriters to finish third or even fourth in the AFC South, they compiled a 13–3 regular season record and... |
||
| defensive coordinator | 2009 2009 Tennessee Titans season The 2009 Tennessee Titans season is the 50th season for the original American Football League team, their 40th in the NFL, and 13th in Tennessee. The Titans aimed to equal or improve on their 2008 NFL best 13–3 record; however, they lost the first 6 games of that season... –present |