Montgomery reportedly joins coaching staff
Jerry Montgomery is leaving the University of Oklahoma coaching staff and reportedly headed for Green Bay.
Montgomery, 35, coached the Sooners' defensive line for the past two seasons and recently was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. The school confirmed his departure in a news release on Tuesday afternoon, but didn't say which NFL staff he was joining because the contract hadn't been signed.
Multiple sources indicated to The Oklahoman newspaper that team was the Packers.
A league source told Press-Gazette Media there has been no indication of any other defensive coaches leaving Green Bay's staff. Fox Sports reported Tuesday evening that Montgomery will essentially work as a defensive quality control assistant.
"This is a rare opportunity for Jerry and his family to join one of the finest organizations in the National Football League," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "I appreciate the positive impact that Jerry has made with our defensive line the past two seasons, as well as his many other contributions to Oklahoma football. The NFL is getting a fine man and a very talented football coach. I support Jerry's decision to further his career goals working with one of the most stable and successful franchises in pro football."
Montgomery, an Iowa alumnus, was seen as an up-and-coming coach and valuable recruiter at Oklahoma. He spent two seasons coaching the defensive lines at Northern Iowa (2007-08), Wyoming (2009-10), Michigan (2011-12) and Oklahoma before Stoops named him co-defensive coordinator last month.
"I have been offered an unbelievable opportunity to pursue my dream of coaching in the National Football League," Montgomery said in a statement. "There are very few jobs that I would have even considered."
The Packers might consider using Montgomery as an assistant defensive line coach to Mike Trgovac, though they've had only one formal assistant overseeing that position since Dom Capers was brought in to install the 3-4 scheme in 2009.
The last time the Packers used two coaches was during their last year in a 4-3 defense in 2008 when Carl Hairston coached defensive ends and Robert Nunn worked with tackles.
Having multiple assistants is customary at the other defensive positions. Winston Moss and Scott McCurley coach linebackers with Darren Perry and Joe Whitt responsible for the secondary.
The Packers are expected to announce all of their coaching changes once the staff is finalized. They reportedly hired former San Francisco offensive line coach Mike Solari on Monday. Ron Zook is the frontrunner to succced Shawn Slocum as special teams coordinator.
-- whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod