Saw this on another site discussing our RB's coach, Faulkner and his "qualifications"
Sad to see this level of cronyism eat at this franchise
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In 2011, as OC and QB coach, Canada brought Faulkner into Northern Illinois as the RB coach and ST coordinator. Then in 2012 he followed Canada to Wisconsin as the TE coach. Then, again, he followed him in 2013, this time to NC State as TE/FB/ST coordinator.
Tomlin was familiar with both Faulkner (2012) and Canada (2016) because they both has short stints in the office next door at Pitt.
Tomlin drafted Jaylen Samuels (2018) solely because of his relationship with Faulkner, and then, he brought him here a year later (2019) to coach Samuels as the RB coach.
Even in 2018 Tomlin still had he sights on Canada, but for a slightly different reason, he wanted his son Dino (barely a 3 star WR recruit
) to play at his uncle Ed's (Tomlin's older brother) alma mater, so he got his buddy Matt Canada (HC/OC) to recruit/offer him. But, due to his lack of real college playing talent, Canada couldn't actually put him on the field, so Dino barely played.
Side note: Since Canada left the U of Maryland, Dino no longer had his meal ticket. So, the great WR talent that is Dino
was recruited by Boston College WR coach, Darrell Wyatt. Guess where Wyatt also coached? In 2006, he was WR coach for the Minnesota Vikings -- the same year ol' Mikey Tomlin was the DC. Side-side note: Does the name Karl Dunbar ring a bell? He was the D Line coach there in 2006. All buddies of Tomlin.
Back to Faulkner: in 2020, to repay the favor/debt, Tomlin brings on Canada as the QB coach and now OC. Faulkner is tied to his hip.
It's all part of the Tomlin Head Coaching Anacapa Chart -- better known as Tomlin's shit-show lazy, crazy "gut" personnel chart.