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COACHING STAFF / EDGAR BENNETTEDGAR BENNETTRUNNING BACKSSixth Season as NFL Coach10th Packers SeasonVETERANS COACHES COMMUNITYLAMBEAU RECORDS &DRAFT &MISC. FIELD HISTORY 2009 REVIEW FREE AGENTSEdgar Bennett begins his 18thNFL season in 2010, his 16th inGreen Bay and sixth as the Packers’running backs coach.Named to his position Jan. 17, 2006, by Head CoachMike McCarthy, Bennett originally was promoted to hiscurrent role Jan. 28, 2005. He continues his “third” GreenBay tour after initially rejoining the club to head playerdevelopment (2001-04) and, earlier, a tenure as one ofthe most productive running backs in Green Bay history(1992-96).Over the past two years, Bennett has overseen the continueddevelopment of Ryan Grant, who became just thethird running back in team history to eclipse 1,200 yardsin back-to-back seasons.Grant had rapidly developed in 2007, his first withthe Packers, upon coming to the team in a trade at theend of training camp. Quickly brought up to speed underBennett’s tutelage, Grant emerged from a backfield-bycommitteeto become the starter at midseason, went on torush for nearly 1,000 yards (including five 100-yard performances),and then set Green Bay postseason recordswith 201 yards and three touchdowns in a playoff victoryover Seattle.Bennett also has helped develop a young ascendingplayer in Brandon Jackson, a 2007 draft choice who hasa 100-yard rushing game to his credit and has become theteam’s most reliable pass protector out of the backfield.This past season, Bennett also managed three fullbackson the roster, as veterans Korey Hall and John Kuhn werejoined by rookie Quinn Johnson, a fifth-round draft pickwhose raw skills project significant promise.In 2006, Bennett oversaw the strong recovery froma torn quadriceps tendon by Ahman Green, whose sixth1,000-yard season set a franchise record.In his first season as a full-time coach in 2005, Bennettsaw the team start five halfbacks and feature six afterseason-ending injuries claimed Green and Najeh Davenport(ankle). A rib injury also sidelined No. 3 back TonyFisher for two games.Faced with steep adversity, Bennett took a non-draftedplayer fresh off the practice squad, Samkon Gado, andguided him to the second-most productive season by arookie running back in franchise history. Gado, who hadstarted only two games at Liberty University, ran for 582yards, including three 100-yard games.Initially joining the club as its director of player developmentApril 10, 2001, Bennett for four years helped playersbecome acclimated to their roles as Green Bay Packers,both on and off the field, especially in terms of theirexpected contributions to their teammates, the communityand team chemistry. Bennett’s efforts in this area wererecognized in 2003 as the Packers’ player developmentdepartment was named the best in the NFC.Green Bay’s fourth-round draft selection in 1992, Bennettis the 10th-ranked rusher in Packers history. The formerFlorida State athlete gained 3,353 yards over his fiveseasons in green and gold (1992-96). In 1995, he becameonly the fifth player in team annals to rush for 1,000 yardsin a season (1,067), the first since Terdell Middleton in1978. He also continues to hold the club single-seasonrecord for receptions by a running back with 78, set in1994. His accomplishments were appropriately honored in2005 upon his induction into the Green Bay Packers Hallof Fame.Edgar Bennett at a glance…►►First joined Packers April 10, 2001, to head player developmentdepartment; promoted to running backs coach Jan. 28,2005, and again named to the position by Mike McCarthyJan. 17, 2006.►►Spent four seasons (2001-04) helping players becomeacclimated to their roles as Green Bay Packers as directorof player development. His efforts were recognized in 2003when his department was named best in the NFC.►►The Packers’ fourth-round selection in the 1992 draft, is the10th-ranked rusher in Packers history, with 3,353 yards overhis five seasons (1992-96). In 1995, became only the fifthplayer in team annals to rush for 1,000 yards in a season(1,067) and the first since Terdell Middleton in 1978.►►Continues to hold the club single-season record for receptionsby a running back with 78, set in 1994.►►A first-team all-state back at Robert E. Lee High Schoolin Jacksonville, was a teammate of former Packers safetyLeRoy Butler, who later would be his teammate at FloridaState and in Green Bay.►►Was inducted into both the Green Bay Packers and FloridaState Athletic halls of fame in 2005.►►In 2003 created the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, anevent that brings together Packers players, coaches and staffto raise funds for charity.COACHING BACKGROUNDYears College/Pro Team Position Coached2005-10 Green Bay Packers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Running BacksAfter a torn Achilles’ heel suffered in the Packers’ 1997preseason opener ended his season, a successfully rehabbedBennett signed with Chicago as an unrestrictedfree agent in 1998 and led the Bears in rushing that seasonwith 611 yards. After one more season with Chicago, Bennettretired from football in 2000.A four-year starter at fullback for Florida State (1987,1989-91), Bennett holds a bachelor’s degree in social science,with a primary emphasis in political science and asecondary emphasis in sociology. Previously, he was afirst-team all-state back at Robert E. Lee High School inJacksonville, where he played with former Packers safetyLeRoy Butler, who later also would be his teammate at FSUand in Green Bay. Bennett was inducted into the FloridaState Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.Bennett and his wife, Mindy, have a son, Edgar IV, 15,and a daughter, Elyse Morgan, 10, and live in Green Bay. In2003, he created the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon,an event that brings together Packers players, coaches andstaff. In recent years, the event has supported Families ofChildren with Cancer, a foundation that gives financial andsocial support to local families whose children are receivingtreatments for cancer or bone marrow failure. The ’06competition, which raised $58,500, saw a local sponsorroll a perfect game. In its initial year, the Bowl-A-Thon supportedthe March of Dimes. In May 2006, Bennett receivedthe “Nice Guy Award” at the Doug Jirschele Sports AwardsBanquet in Clintonville, Wis.38