Tom Walsh (coach)

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Tom Walsh is a former NFL assistant coach, most recently with the Oakland Raiders. He was re-hired by the Raiders as the offensive coordinator in 2006 after Art Shell was brought back as head coach. The pair had held these respective jobs in the early 1990s, when the Raiders were known as the Los Angeles Raiders.

Walsh spent the past several years running bed and breakfast in Swan Valley, Idaho.[1] He was also the mayor of Swan Valley, Idaho at the time of his rehiring by the Raiders.

Tom Walsh faced scrutiny from fans and pundits who claimed his offensive schemes were outdated. Head coach Art Shell also faced criticism for his decision to hire Walsh. Most critics believed that the decision was based too much on Art Shell's loyalties and not on team betterment.

Quarterback Andrew Walter was also particularly critical in interviews regarding the offensive coordinator's play book. He claimed that there was not enough depth and that opponents could quickly adjust to the Raiders offensive schemes. He requested more plays that would allow for quick passes.

Walsh relied heavily on plays that involve slow-developing receiver routes. However, poor offensive line play, frequently dropped balls by their disgruntled receivers (most notably Randy Moss), and lack of mobility from the inexperienced Walter dropped the Raiders' total offensive rank to 32nd out of 32 teams in the NFL. In November, Walsh was removed from his role as offensive coordinator, and replaced by John Shoop. Walsh took over Shoop's former role coaching the Raider tight ends, and neither was retained after Shell's dismissal following Oakland's 2-14 campaign. Oakland soon hired the young Lane Kiffin as its new head coach, and he promised a completely new offense.

It is unknown whether Walsh will continue to coach football on some level, or return to private life.