Marc Trestman has the title of Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator. The job description, however, is not what it might be for some other offenses.
The Oakland offense is the creation of Jon Gruden when he was Raiders coach. It was modified and made over by Bill Callahan, Gruden’s offensive coordinator who brought Trestman in as a senior assistant in 2001 and promoted him to his old job this season. Trestman is involved in preparing the game plan and in play selection but the role is less than it might be under a head coach who has a defensive background.
“I think he should be happy that he has a bunch of veteran players around him,” wide receiver Tim Brown said. “Obviously having the guys around him that he has takes a lot of pressure off him. You can rely on Rich Gannon; he’s an offensive coordinator on the field. He knows the things we do.
“But I think Marc has come in and put in some plays, like a play a week that he’ll come up with that really opens up the game.”
Trestman, 46, was a quarterback at the University of Minnesota before he went through training camps as a free-agent defensive back in 1978-79 with the Minnesota Vikings. He then went to law school at Miami, and Howard Schnellenberger hired him as quarterbacks coach when the Hurricanes won the national title.
That experience changed his career path.
“I always loved the game but I never thought I’d coach,” Trestman said. “Like most players, I never liked coaches.”
A knock on Trestman has been that he is not as good under pressure as he is preparing for the game. Getting fired and moving on has tested his confidence at times.
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“I’ve seen some legends like Tom Landry get fired; I saw it happen to George [Seifert in San Francisco],” Trestman said. “So I knew it could happen to anyone who makes coaching a profession.”