Can Philadelphia Eagles Lead Chip Kelly Down Mike Holmgren’s Trail?

Dec 29, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman prior to a game against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Sherman

After losing long -time general manager Ron Wolf, the Green Bay Packers promoted then head coach Mike Sherman to the dual role of general manager/head coach.  It was a decision the president Bob Harlan deeply regretted.

"“I was concerned that if a new man came in from the outside, (Sherman) might have trouble getting along with him, (or) the new man might want to come in and want to totally change the scouting staff, which I thought was a capable young scouting staff. And so I decided to do something that I don’t like to do — give one man both jobs,” Harlan said. “And (Sherman) didn’t hurt us on the field — we went 12-4, 12-4, 10-6, 10-6. (He) did a great job of coaching. But it got to the point when we started having problems with players that he almost seemed to be ignoring the team.”"

Sherman’s situation boiled over when a contract dispute with cornerback Mike McKenzie in 2004. McKenzies’ battle with the team left Sherman frazzled heading into the season, according to Harlan, who finally stripped the coach of his GM duties and named Ted Thompson to the role in 2005. The following year, Green Bay finished in last place in the NFC North Division with a 4-12 record, matching its worst record since 1991. After that seasons, Mike Sherman was no longer the head coach.

“At the end of the day I felt like we needed to go in a different direction,” Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. Sherman was 57-39 in six seasons with the Packers and guided Green Bay to three straight division titles from 2002-04. Future Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre was a strong supporter of Sherman. He has said that if he did return that he wanted Sherman as his coach.

After being named as coach in 2000, Sherman was given the added title of general manager in 2001, giving him final say in personnel decisions.   However, Sherman was stripped of his GM duties last January after the Packers lost in the wild-card round at home to Minnesota. Green Bay went just 2-4 in the postseason under Sherman.

Next: Dimitroff, Rosman, Holmgren's Trail