NUMBERS GAME
6
Record for appearances as Super Bowl coach–Don Shula, Baltimore, 1969, Miami, 1972-74, 1983, 1985.
4
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Record for victories as Super Bowl coach–Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh, 1975-76, 1979-80–and losses–Marv Levy, Buffalo, 1991-94; Dan Reeves, Denver, 1987-88, 1990, and Atlanta, 1999.
HOW THEY MATCH UP
Coaching
The voice of Oakland coach Bill Callahan is heard from the back of the room: “I’m as familiar with his offense as he is with ours.” It’s an overlooked truth. The assumption is Tampa Bay’s Jon Gruden has an overwhelming edge as the only Super Bowl coach to have coached the opposing team the previous year.
Familiarity aside, Gruden’s coaching job against the Philadelphia Eagles last week is the reason his Buccaneers are here. Coming off that, he would get the nod in any matchup. Without the more common two-week Super Bowl gap for coaching staffs to prepare, Gruden gets an extra edge. Not only does he recognize the tendencies of Callahan and quarterback Rich Gannon, he knows Raiders defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan better than Callahan knows Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Of all the offensive and defensive units involved, Kiffin’s defense is the one that has played together under one system and one coach the longest. Gannon and Callahan point out Gruden will not recognize much of what they do. The Raiders still have to do it against Kiffin’s defense. Gruden has challenged them, saying, “Maybe I can help a little, but when it’s all said and done, this is one difficult beast you have to defend.”
EDGE: Bucs