Wilbert Montgomery

Wilbert Montgomery is in his fourth year as the Ravens’ running backs coach. Montgomery has 24 years of NFL experience (nine as a player) and has built an impressive track record in his 15 years of coaching. Led by Pro Bowler Ray Rice, Baltimore’s backs have been stellar over the last few years under Montgomery’s guidance. In 2010, Rice posted the NFL’s third most yards from scrimmage (1,776), also third most in Ravens history. In 2009, the Ravens’ run game set a team record with 22 rushing TDs, while earning a No. 5 NFL ranking (137.5 ypg). In his first two years, Montgomery guided a superb group of rushers, including Ray Rice (‘09) and Le’Ron McClain (‘08-09) to Pro Bowl seasons. Rice was one of two NFL players to record 2,000 yards from scrimmage (2,041), ranking second in the NFL with 127.6 net yards per game. His scrimmage yards also ranked second in Ravens single-season history. Another Ravens Pro Bowler, Willis McGahee, scored a team-high 12 rushing TDs (14 overall) in 2009. Mongomery’s rushing unit ranked No. 4 in the NFL in 2008, producing 148.5 rushing yards per game. The former Eagles’ star rusher joined the Ravens in 2008 after two seasons with the Detroit Lions (preceded by nine stellar seasons with the St. Louis Rams). Montgomery helped construct one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history, when the Rams boasted the NFL’s No. 1 offense on the road to their first World Championship in Super Bowl XXXIV (1999). From 1999-2001, St. Louis became the only NFL team to amass at least 500 points in three-consecutive seasons (526 in ’99, 540 in ’00 and 503 in ’01).

2008-10: (with Baltimore)
2010: RB Ray Rice compiled the NFL’s third-most scrimmage yards (1,776)...Total was also third most in Ravens history...Rice (63) was one of three Ravens to catch over 60 passes.

2009: Ravens were NFL’s fifth-ranked run team (137.5 ypg), and the 22 rushing TDs bested 2008’s 20 as the most in team history...Rice earned his first Pro Bowl after tallying 2,041 yards from scrimmage (second in NFL and second in Ravens single-season history)...Rice became one of only eight players in NFL history to produce 1,000 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards in a season...FB Le’Ron McClain’s steady season secured a second-straight Pro Bowl berth...RB Willis McGahee scored a team-high 12 rushing TDs (14 overall, tying a franchise record).

2008: Guided a Ravens’ run game that improved from a No. 16 NFL ranking in 2007 to a No. 4 ranking in 2008...McClain earned his first Pro Bowl after a 902-yard, 10-TD season...McClain also was honored as an Associated Press All-Pro...He teamed with McGahee (671 rush yards) and the rookie Rice (454 yards) to become the only NFL team with a trio of RBs with over 450, 600 and 900 yards...Run game was a key factor in the team leading the NFL in time of possession (33:10)...Team’s 592 rushing attempts were an NFL season high, while Baltimore’s 132 rushing first downs were also the league’s second most.

2006-07: (with Detroit)
Injuries to running backs forced Montgomery to work with a total of five different starters, including three in 2007.

2006: Helped RB Kevin Jones evolve into one of the NFL’s best dual-threat RBs…Jones was fourth among RBs with 61 receptions before being placed on Injured Reserve in Week 13…Was also sixth in the NFC with 1,209 yards from scrimmage (689 rushing, 520 receiving).

1997-2005: (with St. Louis)
During his tenure, Wilbert helped cultivate two of the league’s elite RBs: Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson.

2005: Coached Jackson to his first 1,000-yard season…Jackson finished with 1,046 yards and 8 TDs on 254 attempts (4.1 avg.) while emerging as one of the bright young stars in the NFL under Montgomery’s tutelage.

2004: Wilbert teamed Jackson, in his rookie year, with Faulk, to form a dynamic RB tandem, combining for nearly 1,500 rushing yards…Jackson finished third among NFL rookies with 673 rushing yards and 4 TDs on 134 attempts (5.0 avg.).

2003: Switched back to coaching RBs.

2000-02: Coached the Rams’ TEs.

1999: Rams acquired a Pro Bowler in Faulk, who posted his first 1,000-yard receiving season…Also compiled an NFL-record 2,429 yards from scrimmage and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year…Rams boasted the NFL’s No. 1 offense (fifth in rushing) on the way to their first World Championship in Super Bowl XXXIV.

1997: Hired as RBs coach.

NFL PLAYER (1977-85)
Mongomery was one of the NFL’s premier running backs in his nine-year professional career…In eight seasons with Philadelphia, he virtually rewrote the Eagles’ record books…Montgomery was an inaugural inductee of the Eagles’ Honor Roll in 1987.

1985: (with Det.) Played his final season with the Detroit Lions.

1977-1984: (with Phi.) Holds the Eagles’ franchise record in six rushing categories: career rushing yards (6,538), career rushing attempts (1,465), yards in a season (1,512 in 1979), career 100-yard rushing games (26), 100-yard rushing games in a season (8 in 1981) and rushing TDs in a game (3, tied with many players).

1981: Recorded 1,402 yards on the season (nearly five yards per carry).

1980: Earned All-Pro honors, but was hampered by injuries and was questionable for the NFC Championship game, but did play…On the Eagles’ second offensive play – a hand-off by QB Ron Jaworski – Wilbert sped 42 yards to the end zone for a TD…Gained a total of 194 yards in that game, leading the Eagles to their first Super Bowl (XV).

1979: Led the NFL in combined yards from scrimmage with 2,012, garnering his second-consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

1978: Gained 1,220 yards on 259 attempts, scoring 9 TDs…Earned first Pro Bowl.

1977: Spent rookie season returning kickoffs, leading the NFC (26.9-yard avg.)…Notched a 99-yard TD…Selected by the Eagles in the sixth round (154th overall).

COLLEGE
A four-year starting RB who set the NAIA record for career TDs with 76…Set the record for TDs by a freshman (37, 1973), leading the Wildcats to the NAIA Division I National Championship…Lettered in track as sprinter…Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

PERSONAL
Attended Greenville (MS) HS…One of four brothers with NFL experience: Cleotha (Cin., Cle. and Oak./LA), Tyrone (Oak.) and Fred (KC and Phi.)…Wilbert and his wife, Patti, have three children: twins, Brendan and Briana, and a son, Tavian…Montgomery also has a daughter, Sherrita, and a son, Derron.