Paul Boudreau
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Paul T. Boudreau (born December 30, 1949) is an
American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...
coach who last served as offensive line coach for the
Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
of the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He has served as the offensive line coach for eight different NFL teams, one
Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...
(CFL) team, and four college teams. No offensive line coach in the NFL has more experience as an assistant at the professional level than Boudreau, who entered his 29th season in 2015. Boudreau's offensive lines over the years have blocked for five running backs who crossed the 10,000-yard career rushing mark, including Barry Sanders,
Curtis Martin Curtis James Martin Jr. (born May 1, 1973) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets. He played college football for the Pit ...
, Thurman Thomas, Fred Taylor and Steven Jackson.


Biography


Early years

Raised in
Arlington, Massachusetts Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is six miles (10 km) northwest of Boston, Massachusetts, Boston, and its population was 46,308 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Europe ...
, Boudreau played
offensive line In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line ( ...
at Arlington High School. Boudreau attended Bordentown Military Institute in
Bordentown, New Jersey Bordentown is a City (New Jersey), city in Burlington County, New Jersey, Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 3,993, an increase of 69 (+1.8%) from the 2010 United ...
starting in 1967, where he played
offensive guard Offensive may refer to: * Offensive (military), type of military operation * Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative (Netherlands), Socialist Alternative * Fighting words, spoken words which would have a tende ...
and
defensive tackle A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that typically lines up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the Guard (American football), offensive guards; however, he may also line up opposite one of the offensive Tackle (gridir ...
. He received All-Prep honors from the Newark Star Ledger for the 1968 season, and graduated in 1969. Boudreau was widely recruited, but returned to Massachusetts and played for
Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private university, private Catholic Jesuits, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Religious order (Catholic), religious order, t ...
under coach Joe Yukica as an offensive lineman from 1971 until his graduation in 1973.


Coaching career

Boudreau began his coaching career as an assistant at Oxford High School in
Oxford, Massachusetts Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,347 as of the 2020 United States Census. It was the birthplace of Clara Barton, the first president and founder of the American Red Cross. History Pre-Co ...
. He then joined his alma mater where he specialized as the offensive line coach from 1974–1975. He continued as the offensive line coach at other colleges including the
University of Maine The University of Maine (UMaine) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Orono, Maine, United States. It was established in 1865 as the land-grant college of Maine and is the Flagship universitie ...
(1976–78),
Dartmouth College Dartmouth College ( ) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the America ...
(1979–81), and the
United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...
(1982). He then joined the
Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...
staff in the
Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...
and was the offensive line coordinator from 1983–1986. Boudreau's first position in the NFL was with the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
. In his seven seasons with the Saints, his offensive line placed in the top three in fewest sacks allowed on four occasions. In 1992, the Saints allowed a league-low 15 sacks. He then joined the
Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
, under head coach Wayne Fontes, where his offensive line helped Barry Sanders rush for over 1,500 yards each season, and almost 5,000 yards total over three seasons. In the 1997 and 1998 seasons, Boudreau coached the offensive line for the
New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
under head coach
Pete Carroll Peter Clay Carroll (born September 15, 1951) is an American professional American football, football coach who is the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as head coach for the NCAA's ...
. Jimmy Johnson brought Boudreau to the
Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
for the 1999 season. Johnson eventually resigned in January 2000 and was replaced by assistant head coach and
defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator (DC) is a coach responsible for a gridiron football team's defense. Generally, the defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator represent the second level of a team's coaching structure, wit ...
Dave Wannstedt, but Boudreau remained on the staff. In July, at the age of 50, Boudreau took a short medical leave of absence for kidney surgery. When he returned for the 2000 season, his offensive line allowed only 28 sacks, the fourth best in the NFL. In January 2001, Boudreau joined the
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
, whose previous offensive line coach Tony Wise coincidentally accepted Boudreau's job in Miami. The Panthers had previously allowed a season high 69 sacks. For the 2001 season, Boudreau's offensive line set a club record of 31 sacks, which ranked 11th in the NFL, although the Panthers still finished with a 1–15 record. In 2002, the offensive line allowed 44 sacks, and the team finished 7–9. When Panthers defensive coordinator
Jack Del Rio Jack Louis Del Rio Jr. (born April 4, 1963) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football (ELF). He played college football for the USC Trojans ...
became the head coach of the
Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...
, Boudreau followed and served as the offensive line coach from 2003–2005; he also reunited with offensive coordinator and former Saints colleague Carl Smith. In 2003, his offensive line set a franchise record of 28 sacks allowed, ninth in the NFL, and running back Fred Taylor set a team rushing record of 1,572 yards. Scott Linehan brought Boudreau in as offensive line coach for the
St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1995 through the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, California, where the team had played ...
for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In 2006, his offensive line allowed running back Steven Jackson to rush a career best 1,528 yards. In 2008, Boudreau became the offensive line coach for the
Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
under head coach Mike Smith. The Falcons drafted highly touted and former fellow Boston College Eagle, Matt Ryan. Boudreau's line assisted running back Michael Turner in attaining a career high 1,699 rushing yards. Although the Falcons had winning records of 11–5, 9–7, 13–3, and 10–6 respectively, they failed to win a playoff game during this period, and Boudreau was released. For the 2012 season, Paul Boudreau returned to St. Louis as the offensive line coach, but under a new head coach, Jeff Fisher. The Rams finished the 2012 season with a record of 7–8–1, with the tie coming against the eventual NFC champions and division rival, San Francisco 49ers. The 2013 season saw the Rams finish the season with a 7–9 record. In 2014, the Rams used their number 2 overall pick on offensive lineman, Greg Robinson, of Auburn. The Rams finished the season with a 6–10 record despite losing starting quarterback
Sam Bradford Samuel Jacob Bradford (born November 8, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Bradford attended Putnam City North High School, where he starred ...
to injury and splitting time between backups Shaun Hill and Austin Davis. In 2015, the Rams allowed the fewest sacks in the league (18) and finished seventh in the NFL in rushing yards per game.


Personal life

Paul Boudreau met his wife Joan in Boston College. They have two children. Paul Boudreau, Jr. attended Boston College, and is a former assistant coach for the St. Louis Rams, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and
Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...
. Jill Boudreau is the mother of four children.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boudreau, Paul 1949 births Living people Bordentown Military Institute alumni Detroit Lions coaches People from Arlington, Massachusetts People from Destrehan, Louisiana St. Louis Rams coaches Boston College Eagles football players Boston College Eagles football coaches Maine Black Bears football coaches Dartmouth Big Green football coaches Navy Midshipmen football coaches Edmonton Elks coaches New Orleans Saints coaches New England Patriots coaches Miami Dolphins coaches Carolina Panthers coaches Jacksonville Jaguars coaches Atlanta Falcons coaches Coaches of American football from Massachusetts Arlington High School (Massachusetts) alumni Sportspeople from Middlesex County, Massachusetts