Carl Hairston
Encyclopedia
Carl Blake Hairston is a former professional American football
player. He is currently the defensive line coach
for the Omaha Nighthawks
of the United Football League.
Hairston has played in one Super Bowl
and coached
in another during his 30 seasons in the National Football League
. Among his 15 years in the league since the end of his playing career, the daunting Hairston has spent 11 seasons as a defensive line coach. He joined the Green Bay Packers
from Kansas City
, where he spent seven years (1995–1996 and 2001–2005), after sandwiching a four-year term as St. Louis Rams
defensive line coach (1997–2000) between his two stints with the Chiefs.
in 1976, Hairston preceded Reggie White
on the Eagles' line (1976–1983), then spent six years in Cleveland
(1984–1989) and one final campaign with the Cardinals
(1990). In 224 games (184 starts
), he posted 94 sacks among 1,141 tackles. He started for the Eagles at defensive end in Super Bowl XV
against the Oakland Raiders
, one of his 15 postseason contests played.
with the Chiefs in 1994, Hairston also spent three seasons (1991–1993) as a college scout with the Phoenix Cardinals
, where he had finished his playing career.
Marty Schottenheimer
gave Hairston his first full-time coaching position at any level, Chiefs defensive line coach (1995–1996), a role in which he worked with then-quarterbacks coach McCarthy. Tutoring one of the most-feared defensive fronts, Hairston and his players helped the 13-3 Chiefs finish third in the NFL with 47 sacks. Again, his unit produced a pair of Pro Bowl performers, Neil Smith
and Dan Saleaumua
.
On the field as either a player or coach during all 240 games of Dick Vermeil
's career, Hairston first joined the legendary coach for a memorable run with the Rams. In Hairston's first year with the Rams, 1997, he assisted Leslie O'Neal
to a ten-sack performance. He also coached a pair of players, Kevin Carter and Grant Wistrom
, reach double digits in sacks (2000). One year earlier, when the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV
, his unit provided most of St. Louis' 57 sacks, which tied for the league lead. Carter's NFL-leading 17 sacks that year powered him to the Pro Bowl
, where he joined his neighbor on the Rams line, D'Marco Farr
.
Under Hairston, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen
accumulated 20 sacks from 2004–2005, tied for tenth in the NFL during that period but first among players drafted in 2004, including 23 defensive linemen taken before him. Led by Allen's nine sacks as a rookie, the Chiefs finished 2004 with 41 sacks, seventh in the league.
He joined the Packers as a defensive ends coach in 2006, but was let go—along with the majority of the defensive coaching staff—after a disappointing 2008 season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He is currently the defensive line coach
Defensive Line Coach
A defensive line coach is a coach that is in charge of the defensive line in gridiron football. This position is very common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The defensive line coach serves the defense, which is led by the defensive coordinator. A defensive line coach works primarily...
for the Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
of the United Football League.
Hairston has played in one Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
and coached
Coach (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:...
in another during his 30 seasons in the National Football League
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...
. Among his 15 years in the league since the end of his playing career, the daunting Hairston has spent 11 seasons as a defensive line coach. He joined the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
from Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, where he spent seven years (1995–1996 and 2001–2005), after sandwiching a four-year term as St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
defensive line coach (1997–2000) between his two stints with the Chiefs.
Professional career
Originally a seventh-round selection (191st overall) by Vermeil's EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1976, Hairston preceded Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
on the Eagles' line (1976–1983), then spent six years in Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1984–1989) and one final campaign with the Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1990). In 224 games (184 starts
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
), he posted 94 sacks among 1,141 tackles. He started for the Eagles at defensive end in Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, one of his 15 postseason contests played.
Coaching career
Originally a pro scoutScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
with the Chiefs in 1994, Hairston also spent three seasons (1991–1993) as a college scout with the Phoenix Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he had finished his playing career.
Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
gave Hairston his first full-time coaching position at any level, Chiefs defensive line coach (1995–1996), a role in which he worked with then-quarterbacks coach McCarthy. Tutoring one of the most-feared defensive fronts, Hairston and his players helped the 13-3 Chiefs finish third in the NFL with 47 sacks. Again, his unit produced a pair of Pro Bowl performers, Neil Smith
Neil Smith (football player)
Neil Smith is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988 to 1996, the Denver Broncos from 1997 to 1999, and the San Diego Chargers in 2000...
and Dan Saleaumua
Dan Saleaumua
Raymond Daniel Saleaumua is a Samoan American former American football player.He attended high school at Sweetwater High and attended college at Arizona State. He played Nose tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end throughout his college and pro career...
.
On the field as either a player or coach during all 240 games of Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
's career, Hairston first joined the legendary coach for a memorable run with the Rams. In Hairston's first year with the Rams, 1997, he assisted Leslie O'Neal
Leslie O'Neal
Leslie O'Neal is a former football defensive end who played 13 years in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1986 to 1999....
to a ten-sack performance. He also coached a pair of players, Kevin Carter and Grant Wistrom
Grant Wistrom
Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career...
, reach double digits in sacks (2000). One year earlier, when the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, his unit provided most of St. Louis' 57 sacks, which tied for the league lead. Carter's NFL-leading 17 sacks that year powered him to the 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...
, where he joined his neighbor on the Rams line, D'Marco Farr
D'Marco Farr
D'Marco Farr is a former American football player with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams in the National Football League. Farr played defensive tackle for the Rams from 1994–2000 and recorded 36.5 career sacks. He was a member of the Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV...
.
Under Hairston, Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
accumulated 20 sacks from 2004–2005, tied for tenth in the NFL during that period but first among players drafted in 2004, including 23 defensive linemen taken before him. Led by Allen's nine sacks as a rookie, the Chiefs finished 2004 with 41 sacks, seventh in the league.
He joined the Packers as a defensive ends coach in 2006, but was let go—along with the majority of the defensive coaching staff—after a disappointing 2008 season.