COACH ZAUNER’S 13 YEARS NFL COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2006 SEASON: ARIZONA CARDINALS:
From 2006 Arizona Cardinals Media Guide:
Gary Zauner is entering his 13th season as an NFL assistant and his first with the Cardinals after being hired to coach special teams on 1/5/06. Throughout his career, Zauner has been noted for discovering and recruiting undrafted rookie free agents and turning them into successful NFL players. Robert Griffith (Minnesota) and Obefemi Ayanbadejo (Minnesota), who are both on the Cardinals roster, got their start under Zauner as did Brian Russell (Minnesota), Will Demps (Baltimore), B.J. Sams (Baltimore) and Matt Katula (Baltimore).
2002 - 2005 SEASON: BALTIMORE RAVENS
From 2005 Baltimore Ravens Media Guide:
Gary Zauner entered his 4th season as Special Teams Coordinator following dramatic efforts of the ever-changing special teams unit. Rookie free agent B.J. Sams posted two punt returns for TDs (tied for NFL and Ravens record) and set a new single-season franchise record with 1,826 combined return yards.
From 2004 Baltimore Ravens Media Guide:
Gary Zauner guided the 2003 Ravens kickoff coverage team to 3rd overall in NFL (2nd in AFC) with an average start of 26.4-yard line. Dallas Morning News football Columnist Rick Gosselin ranked the Ravens’ 2003 special teams 4th in the NFL (based on 20+ categories). This Ravens’ kickoff special teams unit was 2nd in the NFL with 17 tackles inside the 20.
From 2003 Baltimore Ravens Media Guide:
Gary Zauner was named the Ravens 1st Special Teams Coordinator in 2002. After 8 years of setting or breaking NFL records with the Minnesota Vikings as their special teams coach, it’s no fluke that the Ravens produced 4 special teams TDs last season. Chris McAlister stunned Denver, as well as Ravens fans and a national television audience after grabbing a Jason Elam missed FG, then racing a spectacular 107 yards for a TD, when he set the record for the longest play in NFL history. In 2002, Ed Reed blocked the first two punts in team history, and Chad Williams added a third (2 of the 3 returned for TDs).
From 2002 Baltimore Ravens Media Guide:
“There is a rare breed of special teams coaches, and in my opinion, a very rare breed, less than a handful, and I think we have the best by way of Gary Zauner,” said head coach Brian Billick. He has proven his expertise in not only special teams play, but in the specifics of kicking, punting and long snapping, which are such a huge part of this game. He is a tremendous resource to us.”
2001 SEASON: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
From 2001 Minnesota Vikings Official Web Site:
Since Gary Zauner came to the Minnesota Vikings in 1994 as the special teams coach, he has helped produce six National Football League records and numerous team records. During his 7 seasons with the club he has coached three different kicking specialist (Gary Anderson, Faud Reveiz and Mitch Berger) to the Pro Bowl. Even more impressive is that this is Zauner’s first full-time NFL coaching assignment.
HIGHLIGHTS:
In ‘99, the Vikings set a team record kicks/punts returned for a touchdown in a season with three (kickoffs by Robert Tate and Moe Williams and a punt by Randy Moss). The Vikings led the NFL for average opponents drive start line on kickoffs (23.5-yard line).
In ‘98, Zauner guided kicker Gary Anderson to the first perfect season by a kicker in NFL history. Zauner also guided punter/kickoff specialist Berger who led the NFL in touchbacks with 40, which was a NFL record since the kickoff was moved to the 30-yard line in 1993. Return specialist David Palmer returned the Vikings first kickoff for a TD since 1989 with an 88-yarder vs. Baltimore (12/13).
In ‘97, Punt returner David Palmer finished first in the NFC in punt return average (13.1 ) for the second time in his career.
In ‘95, the Vikings placed a player among the top two in the NFC in punt return average (David Palmer) and kickoff return average (Qadry Ismail) for the first time in the same season in team history in’95. Palmer became the first Minnesota player to lead the league in punt returns with a team season record 13.2-yard average.
