Greg Knapp returns to the Raiders for a second stint as offensive coordinator. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
Greg Knapp, who has 17 years of coaching experience at the NFL level, rejoins The Oakland Raiders as offensive coordinator. The 48-year old Knapp has served the past two seasons as quarterbacks coach for the Houston Texans after spending the nine previous years as an offensive coordinator—from 2004-06 for the Atlanta Falcons, from 2001-03 for the San Francisco 49ers, from 2007-08 for the Oakland Raiders and in 2009 for the Seattle Seahawks.
In 2011, Knapp helped guide the Texans to the franchise's first ever AFC South division title and postseason appearance and victory despite the loss of starting quarterback Matt Schaub due to injury after just 10 games. The Texans ranked 10th in NFL in scoring with 381 points (23.8 ppg) and Schaub finished the season ranked sixth in the league with a 96.8 quarterback rating.
Under Knapp in 2010, Schaub ranked ninth in the NFL with a 92.0 passer rating and became the 12th player in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, ranking fourth in the NFL with 4,370 yards passing. In addition, Schaub had a career-best interception percentage of 2.1 and threw twice as many touchdowns (24) as interceptions (12), aided by a string of 110 consecutive passes without an interception.
Knapp spent the 2009 season as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks and guided an attack that averaged 316.8 yards per game, including 218.9 per game through the air. Knapp joined Seattle after two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. In 2007, the Raiders averaged 294.8 yards per game and ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing with 130.4 yards per game. In 2008, the Oakland offense averaged 272.3 yards per game, including a rushing attack that ranked 10th in the NFL with an average of 124.2 yards per game.
In Atlanta from 2004-06, Knapp's offense featured the top rushing attack in the league, averaging 169.9 yards per game on the ground over three seasons. In 2005, the Falcons led the league in rushing by averaging 159.1 yards per game and produced a 1,000-yard rusher and three Pro Bowlers on offense. In 2004, the Falcons averaged 167 yards per game while advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
Knapp was first promoted to offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in 2001 and held that position through 2003. In his three years as the play-caller, the 49ers averaged 355.8 yards per game, which ranked fifth in the league. Quarterback Jeff Garcia threw for an average of 213.0 yards per game and posted a passer rating of 87.4 in Knapp's offense.
Knapp began his NFL coaching career as a quality control assistant with the 49ers from 1995-97 before being promoted to quarterbacks coach in 1998. Under his guidance from 1998-99, quarterback Steve Young concluded his Hall of Fame career with a passer rating of 95.5 over his final two seasons. In 2000, Garcia took over the reins of the San Francisco offense and threw for a team-record 4,278 yards and 31 touchdowns.
During his 17 years on the offensive side of the ball in the NFL, Knapp's quarterbacks have participated in the Pro Bowl nine times. San Francisco's Steve Young and Jeff Garcia played in the game from 1995-98 and 2000-02, respectively, and Michael Vick represented the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-05.
A native of Seal Beach, Calif., Knapp played quarterback at Sacramento State from 1982-85. He began his coaching career in 1986 at his alma mater and remained there through 1994. He coached the Hornets running backs from 1986-89 and wide receivers from 1989-90 before being promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator from 1991-94.
Knapp and his wife Starla have one daughter, Jordan.
