Marc Trestman

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
23 173-191-1 47.53% 6-8 42.86%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Jerry Burns, Bill Callahan, Bud Carson, Bud Grant, Jon Gruden, Sean Payton, Ray Perkins, Bobby Ross, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, Vince Tobin, Dave Wannstedt

Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Marc Trestman is a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) and has been the senior offensive assistant coach for the Los Angeles Chargers since 2024. Prior to this season, he coached for the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Baltimore Ravens for twenty-two seasons. His most recent position was with the Ravens as their offensive coordinator. He was the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2013 until the 2014 season, during which time the Bears went 13-19-0. During his career he was a head coach for two seasons. He was fired from the Bears on Monday, December 29, 2014. Trestman was fired after finishing the 2014 season on a six-game losing streak.

Career Awards

During the 2002 season as the offensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders he coached Rich Gannon to the Most Valuable Player.

Marc Trestman Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Trestman served as an assistant coach for Bud Grant, Jerry Burns, Ray Perkins, Marty Schottenheimer, Bud Carson, George Seifert, Bobby Ross, Vince Tobin, Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan, Dave Wannstedt, Sean Payton, John Harbaugh, and Jim Harbaugh. During this time, he coached for three years for Jerry Burns and Vince Tobin.

Playing Career

Trestman played quarterback while at college.

Personal Information

Trestman was born on Sunday, January 15, 1956 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Assistant Coaching Career

University of Miami

After the completion of his college playing career at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Trestman attempted to play professional football as a defensive back, but did not make it out of the Minnesota Vikings training camp. After his playing career ended, Trestman started his coaching career in 1981 as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Miami Hurricanes while attending law school. After two seasons as a volunteer coach, he was promoted to the school's quarterbacks coach starting in 1983.

Hurricanes won the National Championship with a 11-1 record in head coach Howard Schnellenberger's last season with the team. With Schnellenberger gone, the Hurricanes hired Jimmy Johnson as the head coach. The team could not repeat as champions, losing in the Fiesta Bowl to cap a 8-5 season. Following the 1984 season, Trestman began coaching in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings

In 1985, Trestman returned to Minnesota to coach running backs for the Vikings and head coach Bud Grant. This was Grant's first season back with the Vikings after taking one season off, and it tied for Grant's worst season since his first season with the Vikings. The Vikings went 7-9 and missed the playoffs. After the 1985 season, Grant stepped down and was replaced by long-time offensive coordinator Jerry Burns. The 1986 season was more successful than 1985, but the Vikings still did not make the playoffs with their 9-7 record.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After his two seasons with the Vikings, Trestman accepted the quarterbacks coach position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under new head coach Ray Perkins. That season, the Buccaneers would draft quarterback Vinny Testeverde, a former Miami Hurricanes quarterback that Trestman coached in college. The team started strong, but finished the season on a eight game losing streak to end the season 4-11. After the season, Trestman accepted a position with the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland Browns

Trestman spent two seasons in Cleveland, 1988 as quarterbacks coach, and added offensive coordinator to his title in 1989. Trestman's starting quarterback during his Cleveland years was Bernie Kosar, another former Hurricanes quarterback Trestman coached in college. The Browns earned playoff bids each of Trestman's seasons with the team, advancing to the AFC Championship game in 1989 under new head coach Bud Carson. After two seasons with the Browns, Trestman moved back to Minnesota to coach with the Vikings.

Return to Minnesota

In 1990, he returned for his second stint with the Vikings. This time, he served in two capacities. One position was the quarterbacks coach; the other as administrative assistant to head coach. However, the team did not experience much success during his two seasons. The Vikings went 14-16 with a very average offense led by quarterback Rich Gannon. After the 1991 season, head coach Jerry Burns would retire. New incoming head coach Dennis Green decided not to retain Trestman, bringing in Jack Burns from Washington. Without a coaching position, Trestman sat out of coaching until 1995.

San Francisco 49ers

After a few years, Trestman began coaching again for the San Francisco 49ers. In 1995, he was hired as the 49ers Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator, positions he held for two seasons. In 1995, the 49ers led the league in points per game, but 1996 was not as explosive. Key losses during the offseason limited the offense to a one-dimensional passing team. Head coach George Seifert was forced to retire and Trestman was fired.

Detroit Lions

After his time in San Francisco, Trestman spent the 1997 season with the Detroit Lions as their Quarterbacks Coach. Brought in by new head coach Bobby Ross, he helped quarterback Scott Mitchell throw for the (then) second most yards in team history as the team went 9-7, losing in the NFC Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Arizona Cardinals

After Detroit, Trestman was hired by the Arizona Cardinals to fulfill the roles of Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach. The first season had immediate dividends as the Cardinals had their first playoff berth since 1982 and won their first playoff game since 1947. However, the team would regress the next two seasons, with head coach Vince Tobin being fired halfway through the 2000 season.

Oakland Raiders

After his tenure with the Cardinals, Jon Gruden hired Trestman as the senior offensive assistant coach during the 2001 season. This move also paired Trestman with Rich Gannon, who previously worked together during their Minnesota Vikings years. With Gruden leaving the team following the season to coach the Buccaneers, Offensive Coordinator Bill Callahan was elevated to Head Coach, with Trestman now filling the vacant Offensive Coordinator position.

The pairing of Trestman and Gannon were much more explosive together with the Raiders, leading the league in offense during the 2002 season en route to a Super Bowl appearance (losing to Gruden-led Buccaneers). Gannon would also win the NFL MVP that season, after setting numerous team passing records. However, injuries limited the offense the next season and the Raiders struggled to a 4-12 finish, with the staff being fired at the conclusion of the season.

Miami Dolphins

After being fired by the Raiders, Trestman returned to the city that his coaching career started, albeit for the local professional team. Trestman spent the 2004 season on the Dolphins staff as Assistant Head Coach and the Quarterbacks coach. However, the season was difficult for the team as head coach Dave Wannstedt was fired mid-season during a 4-12 campaign.

North Carolina State University

After the unsuccessful season with the Dolphins, Trestman returned to the college ranks with the North Carolina State Wolf Pack. Working as the Offensive Coordinator, he helped recruit and coach current Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. During his two year tenure with the school, they would go 10-14. After head coach Chuck Amato was fired, Trestman found himself out of a job again.

2007 Season

Rather than sitting out another season, Trestman spent 2007 between three different endeavors: Preparing players for the combine, guest coaching at the Montreal Alouettes training camp, and working as a consultant for the New Orleans Saints.

Head Coaching Career

Canadian Football League (CFL)

Montreal Alouettes

In 2008, Trestman accepted his first head coaching position in his career. Moving to the Canadian Football League (CFL) to coach the Montreal Alouettes. In his five seasons with the team, the Alouettes won the division four times, made three appearances in the Grey Cup (winning twice), and posted the most wins in franchise history (2009, 15-3).

National Football League (NFL)

Chicago Bears

After a successful stretch in the CFL, Trestman accepted the head coaching job for the Chicago Bears in 2013. While the team would 13-19 during Trestman's two seasons, the offense set many new team records for total offense, passing efficiency, passing touchdowns, and many others. However, Trestman was fired after the conclusion of the 2014 season as the team regressed to 5-11.

Returning to an Assistant Role

Baltimore Ravens

In 2015, Trestman was hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2024 Los Angeles Chargers Senior Offensive Assistant Coach 8-6-0 0-0
2016 Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator 8-8-0 0-0
2015 Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator 5-11-0 0-0
2014 Chicago Bears Head Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2013 Chicago Bears Head Coach 8-8-0 0-0
2007 New Orleans Saints Consultant 7-9-0 0-0
2004 Miami Dolphins Assistant Head Coach / Quarterbacks Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2003 Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2002 Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 11-5-0 2-1
2001 Oakland Raiders Senior Assistant-Offense / Senior Assistant Coach 10-6-0 1-1
2000 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 3-13-0 0-0
1999 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1998 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 9-7-0 1-1
1997 Detroit Lions Quarterbacks Coach 9-7-0 0-1
1996 San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 12-4-0 1-1
1995 San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 11-5-0 0-1
1991 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks Coach / Administrative Assistant to Head Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1990 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks Coach / Administrative Assistant to Head Coach 6-10-0 0-0
1989 Cleveland Browns Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 9-6-1 1-1
1988 Cleveland Browns Quarterbacks Coach 10-6-0 0-1
1987 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterbacks Coach 4-11-0 0-0
1986 Minnesota Vikings Running Backs Coach / Offensive Backfield Coach 9-7-0 0-0
1985 Minnesota Vikings Running Backs Coach / Offensive Backfield Coach 7-9-0 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts

Career Highlights:

  • CFL Coach of the Year (2009)
  • NFL Coordinator of the Year (2002)