Longtime NFL defensive line coach John Teerlinck has passed away. Teerlinck spent two seasons leading the Cleveland Browns defensive line. He was 69.
Teerlinck is best-known in the NFL for his work with the Indianapolis Colts, where he coached the defensive line from 2002-2012 and worked wonders with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis as two of the premier pass rushers of their era. But the former Chargers defensive tackle got his NFL coaching start with the Browns in 1989.
He made a splash right away working with precocious pass rusher Michael Dean Perry on those 1989-1990 Browns. Teerlinck transformed “MDP” from a promising 2nd-round rookie in 1988 into a first-team All-Pro in both years working with Perry.
Teerlinck later worked with Hall-of-Famer John Randle in Minnesota, and Randle asked his beloved coach to present him at his Hall of Fame induction.
We here at Browns Wire extend our condolences to Teerlinck’s family and those he impacted.
