John Bonamego

John Frank Bonamego (born August 14, 1963) is an American football coach who serves as a senior coaching assistant for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He has two decades of college and pro coaching experience. He played college football at Central Michigan and also was head coach of the team from 2015 to 2018.

John Bonamego
Iowa State Cyclones
Position:Senior special teams analyst
Personal information
Born: (1963-08-14) August 14, 1963
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
High school:Paw Paw (MI)
College:Central Michigan
Undrafted:1987
Career history
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
As a coach

Bonamego has also coached for Maine, Lehigh and Army at the college level. He has been an assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

On June 18, 2015, Bonamego announced that he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer, but that the cancer was caught early enough and was "very treatable'.[1] On August 21, Bonamego announced that he had completed his radiation treatment at the University of Michigan Cancer Center in Ann Arbor.[2]

Early years

Bonamego graduated from Paw Paw High School in Paw Paw, Michigan. His father was an officer in the Army. He lived in eight zip codes[3] –including military bases in Italy and Ethiopia– before he turned 18.

Playing career

Bonamego played wide receiver and quarterback at Central Michigan University. He earned his degree in health and fitness in 1987.

Coaching career

Beginnings

In 1987, Bonamego coached at Mount Pleasant High School in Michigan and was a player-coach in Europe with the Verona Redskins.

College

Bonamego served as a college assistant for 11 years, coaching for Maine from 1988 to 1991, Lehigh in 1992 and Army from 1993 to 1998.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Bonamego first joined the NFL in 1999 as an assistant special teams coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He held the position for three seasons before serving his final year with the team as special teams coordinator in 2002. That season, the Jaguars blocked four kicks and were second in the league in kickoff coverage. Punter Chris Hanson was also selected to Pro Bowl.

On January 20, 2012, Bonamego was hired as special teams coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Green Bay Packers

In 2003, Bonamego joined the Green Bay Packers as the special teams coordinator and served in that capacity for three seasons under Mike Sherman. The club had four game-winning field goals in 2004,[4] the most by the team since the 1970 merger. In 2005,[5] the Packers had the NFL's longest punt return for a touchdown (85 yards vs. Chicago), didn't allow a return touchdown, blocked two PATs and a field goal attempt and ranked fifth in the NFC in punt return average.

New Orleans Saints

In 2006, Bonamego was hired by Sean Payton as special teams coordinator for the New Orleans Saints and held the job for two seasons. Bonamego is remembered for calling for what turned out to be a successful blocked punt by Steve Gleason in the first game at the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.[6] New Orleans finished 2006 tied for 10th in the NFL in the annual special teams rankings formulated by The Dallas Morning News.[7] The Saints ranked sixth in the NFL in opponent punt return average (7.0) and fourth in the NFC in kickoff return average (23.0). New Orleans did not allow a kickoff return of more than 40 yards and the longest punt return the special teams surrendered was 31 yards. Bonamego returned to the Saints for the 2011 season as the assistant special teams coordinator.[8]

Miami Dolphins

After two seasons in New Orleans, replaced special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong for the Miami Dolphins and first-year head coach Tony Sparano. Bonamego and Sparano had previously coached together with the Jaguars from in 2002 when Sparano was tight ends coach. Bonamego held the job for two plus seasons.

Central Michigan Chippewas

On February 9, 2015, Bonamego was introduced as the 28th football head coach in the history of Central Michigan University. Bonamego is the first alum to serve as Central Michigan's head coach since Bill Kelly from 1951 to 1966. This was Bonamego's first head coaching position and his first college coaching position since he served as an assistant for Army from 1993 to 1998. Bonamego signed a five-year contract worth $350,000 annually with an additional $125,000 for radio and television appearances.

On November 23, 2018, Bonamego was fired by Central Michigan after the team suffered the worst season in team history.[9]

Detroit Lions

Bonamego spent two seasons – 2013 and 2014 with the Detroit Lions as the special teams coordinator. He awarded "Bono Gear" to players who stood out on special teams.[10] He also handed out traveling trophies after every Lions victory to the special-teams player who led in categories like blocks, tackles or being the first player down to cover kickoffs.

Following his departure after the 2014 season, the Detroit Lions announced on January 22, 2019 that they had re-hired Bonamego as their special teams coordinator.[11]

Los Angeles Rams

After his release after one season with the Detroit Lions on December 31, 2019,[12] the Los Angeles Rams announced on February 10, 2020, that they have hired Bonamego as their special teams coach.[13] He was shifted to senior coaching assistant on February 23, 2021.[14] Bonamego won his first Super Bowl when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.[15]

After coaching 16 years in the NFL and 19 years at college programs, Bonamego announced his retirement on February 17, 2023. [16]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Central Michigan Chippewas (Mid-American Conference) (2015–2018)
2015 Central Michigan 7–66–2T–1st (West)L Quick Lane
2016 Central Michigan 6–73–55th (West)L Miami Beach
2017 Central Michigan 8–56–2T–2nd (West)L Famous Idaho Potato
2018 Central Michigan 1–110–86th (West)
Central Michigan: 22–2915–17
Total:22–29
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. Jahnke, James. "CMU's Bonamego has 'very treatable' cancer". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  2. Manzullo, Brian. "CMU's Bonamego finishes cancer radiation treatment". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  3. "John Bonamego's day: Fights cancer, lives dream, eyes Oklahoma State". September 2, 2015.
  4. "CMUCHIPPEWAS.COM John Bonamego Named Head Football Coach - Official Athletic Site Official Athletic Site - Football". www.cmuchippewas.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015.
  5. "New Orleans Saints: John Bonamego". www.neworleanssaints.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011.
  6. "The story behind Steve Gleason's blocked punt, as told by its key players".
  7. "New Orleans Saints: John Bonamego". www.neworleanssaints.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011.
  8. "New Orleans Saints: John Bonamego". www.neworleanssaints.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2011.
  9. Thomas, Chris (November 23, 2018). "Central Michigan fires John Bonamego after historically bad 1-11 season". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  10. "Lions' John Bonamego has his own 'Bono Gear' for players".
  11. "Bonamego back with Lions as special teams coordinator". Associated Press. January 23, 2019.
  12. "Lions part ways with John Bonamego, six assistants". NFL.com.
  13. "Report: Ex-Lions coach John Bonamego hired by Rams as special teams coach". February 10, 2020.
  14. Jackson, Stu (February 23, 2021). "Rams finalize 2021 coaching staff". TheRams.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  15. "Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals - February 13th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  16. "John Bonamego, longtime NFL assistant and former CMU coach, retiring". ESPN.com. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
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