Montreal Alouettes Add Jeff Garcia To Coaching Staff

Another week, another new face on the Montreal Alouettes coaching staff. Former CFL and NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia has been named to the team’s offensive coaching staff. No position has been officially announced.

Garcia brings experience of being a top line CFL quarterback although he has not had any coaching experience. He was most recently an analyst for NFL Network’s morning show NFL AM. Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said that Garcia was one of several candidates the team looked at bringing in to improve a stagnant offence.

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"“After several discussions with Tom about candidates who could potentially help our offence right now, we welcome Jeff to our organization and to the offensive coaching staff. He brings tremendous experience, great leadership, competitiveness, and the drive to be the best. We feel that by tapping into Jeff’s knowledge, he will be another key addition in getting our season turned around,” said Jim Popp in a press release."

There was also an interesting quote from head coach Tom Higgins (emphasis added by me.)

"“Jeff Garcia is a fierce competitor who has had success in every situation he has faced in professional football. The addition of Jeff is ideal because he brings the expertise he’s gained over his professional years from so many different systems. We are very excited to welcome Jeff to our coaching staff in his coaching debut. His CFL knowledge and comprehension of the game are key qualities that are going to be invaluable for us to improve as a team in the upcoming weeks. Over the next few days, we will be able to better evaluate all of our coaches and establish what their exact roles will be.“"

That would mean that Ryan Dinwiddie may also be re-assigned from defacto offensive coordinator. He was the quarterbacks coach before Rick Worman was fired during training camp. The Alouettes currently have no one officially as offensive coordinator but Dinwiddie is calling the plays.

Garcia played for three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders as their starter and spent five seasons in the Canadian Football League. He replaced Doug Flutie as Calgary’s starter after Flutie went to the Toronto Argonauts. He quickly established himself as a top quarterback and followed Flutie’s path to the NFL.

He started in the NFL with his hometown San Francisco 49ers. In 1999, due to injuries, he became the starting quarterback where he stayed for five seasons. He also played for Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay in his 11 year NFL career.

Garcia, the team announced, will be at practice today with the team.