Marc Trestman is considered one of football’s great minds when it comes to QB whispering as he has played a hand in many a great QB’s ascensions or been on the coaching staff as of their rise.
After being unable to wrest the starting QB job at Minnesota, Marc Trestman transferred to Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
Unsigned, he spent camp with the Vikings in ’79 and ’80 as a defensive back but didn’t crack the lineup.
He began his college coaching career at Miami (FL) in 1981, and by ’83 was serving as the team’s QB coach.
Then in 1985, Trestman embarked on a series of stops as a positional coach and offensive coordinator in the NFL (Vikings, Browns, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Raiders, and Dolphins).
After a brief stop at NC State in 2005-’06, Trestman returned to the NFL as a consultant with the New Orleans Saints in 2007.
It’d be in late 2007 that Marc really carved out a name for himself as he was hired as HC of the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.
Paired with GM Jim Popp, Marc’s Alouette teams won back to back CFL Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010.
By 2012, Trestman was garnering NFL attention, and in 2013 he was hired as the Chicago Bears head coach.
Trestman was the first coach since Bud Grant to jump from the CFL to the NFL.
He’d finish his rookie head coaching season 8-8 as the Bears would break multiple offensive team records.
Unfortunately he’d not see the same success in 2014, as the team slid to 5-11.
After a stop in Baltimore as their OC in 205/’16, Marc returned to the CFL where he had the most success.
Reunited with Jim Popp – this time in Toronto, where the Argos pulled off a worst to first, winning the Great Cup in 2017.
He’d be fired after the 2018 season.
Marc hopped on over to the XFL 2020, where he coached the Tampa Bay Vipers to a 1-4 record before COVID took down the league.
After a long hiatus, Trestman was hired by Jim Harbaugh to be an assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.
ACCOLADES:
CFL Coach of the Year 2009, ’17
NOTES:
I was interested in learning more about Marc and I thought the best way to do so was to see his offensive mind at work, so I asked him to diagram up a play with his autograph. He. Did. Not. Instead I got a note, which I thought was a bit snarky, wishing me luck with whatever I do with the autograph, or something like that. Okay dude.
Gary Garrison played WR at San Diego State, and was the record holder in career touchdown receptions with 26 and with 1,272 receiving yards in a season at the time of his departure from the school.
Drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 1965 AFL draft and the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Eagles.
In ’68 caught 52 passes for 1,103 yards and 10 TDs including an 84 yarder.
Caught 44 passes for 1,006 yards and 12 TDs in 1970.
Tied a career high in 1972 with 52 receptions.
Played with the Chargers through the 1976 season, totaling 7,553 yards and 58 TDs with the team.
Had one final season in 1977 with the Houston Oilers and retired.
ACCOLADES:
Chargers Hall of Fame 1985
AFL All-Star 1968
Pro Bowl 1970-’72
Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
NOTES:
I couldn’t understand why the price on this card had inflated so much at the time but obviously it had to do with the demand placed on it because of COVID. I waited it out and eventually got it at a fair price of about $8.00.
CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Score 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 9/1/22 RECEIVED: 10/24/22 (53 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Eric Hill played LB at LSU from 1985-’88, forming an awesome bookend duo with Ron Sancho.
Over his time with the Tigers he compiled 245 total tackles (169 solo), 10 sacks, 7 pass deflections, and 5 forced fumbles.
Displayed all the tools needed to excel at the Pro level, and had an impressive combine running a 4.7 40 and bench pressing 365 lbs.
Selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals.
Cardinals moved Eric inside to MLB and he had 91 tackles, a sack and 2 fumble recoveries his rookie year.
After 4 games into the 1990 campaign, the Cards decided to switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.
Hill responded masterfully posting another 96 total tackles.
In 1991, Eric returned a Rams fumble 85 yards for a TD- the second longest return in franchise history.
He’d also crack the 100 tackle barrier for the first time with 103, leading the team in that category.
Despite missing the first 3 games of the 1993 season, Eric finished second on the team in total tackles with 92.
As the Cards, transitioned back to a 4-3 Hill continued to be stout against the run scoring 120 tackles in 1994, 118 in ’95, and 131 in ’96.
After the 1997 season, Eric signed with the St. Louis Rams in ’98, posting his first and only interception of his career that year.
His last season in 1999 was spent with the San Diego Chargers as he started 10 games and posted a modest 38 total tackles.
ACCOLADES:
All Madden 1995
Pro Bowl 1994, ’95
All Pro 1994, ’95
All Rookie Team 1989
NOTES:
Eric Hill was the 10th overall selection of the barn burning 1989 NFL Draft: Perhaps my favorite draft of all time. He flew under the radar due to bigger names surrounding him, but he managed to carve himself out quite a solid career in the NFL with over 1,000 tackles to his name as a fierce and reliable run defender.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
