Pro Career
Named head coach of Browns on January 21, 1999, coming to Cleveland from Jacksonville where he served as offensive coordinator and helped guide the Jaguars to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

Jacksonville captured the AFC Central Division title with an 11-5 regular season record in 1998 and defeated New England 25-10 in an AFC Wild Card Game. Jacksonville posted an identical 11-5 record in 1997 before losing at eventual Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver in a Wild Card Game.

Palmer coached with the New England Patriots from 1993-96. He coached the team's wide receivers from 1993-95 and was the quarterbacks coach in 1996 when the Patriots captured the AFC Championship and earned a berth in Super Bowl XXXI.

Palmer served as wide receivers coach for the Houston Oilers from 1990-92 and helped Houston lead the NFL in passing offesne each season. Palmer was the offensive line coach for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Concordes in 1983 and served as receivers coach in 1984 and quarterback coah/offensive coordinator in 1985 for the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals.

Background
Palmer was a Quarterback at Southern Connecticut State from 1968-1971. He has had zero pro playing experience. He began coaching career as assistant coaching the defensive line and wide receivers at Connecticut from 1972-74. He was the Wide receivers coach at Lehigh in 1975. Offensive coordinator at Colgate from 1976-1982. He was the Head coach at New Haven in 1986-87 and posted consecutive 8-2 marks. He was the Head coach at Boston University in 1988-89. His career college head coaching record: 24-18.

Personal
Born September 23, 1949, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. Received bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Connecticut State. Chris and his wife, Donna, reside in Cleveland. They have a son, Mark and a daughter, Kristin.

Assistant Coaches

Clarence Brooks, defensive line; born May 20, 1951, New York, N.Y., lives in Cleveland. Guard Massachusetts 1970-73. No pro playing experience. College coach: Massachusetts 1976-80, Syracuse 1981-89, Arizona 1990-92. Pro coach: Chicago Bears 1993-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Jerry Butler, wide receivers; born October 12, 1957, Ware Shoals, S.C., lives in Cleveland. Wide receiver Clemson 1976-79. Pro receiver Buffalo Bills 1979-87. Pro coach: Joined Browns in 1999.

Keith Butler, linebackers; born May 16, 1956, Anniston, Ala., lives in Cleveland. Linebacker Memphis 1974-77. Pro linebacker Seattle 1978-87. College coach: Memphis 1990-97, Arkansas State 1998. Pro coach: Joined Browns in 1999.

Billy Davis, defensive quality control; born November 5, 1965, Youngstown, Ohio, lives in Cleveland. Quarterback Cincinnati 1984-88. No pro playing experience. College coach: Michigan State 1990-91. Pro coach: Pittsburgh Steelers 1992-94, Carolina Panthers 1995-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Jerry Holmes, defensive backfield; born December 22, 1957, Hampton, Va., lives in Cleveland. Safety West Virginia 1978-79. Pro safety New York Jets 1980-83, 1986-87; Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) 1984, New Jersey Generals (USFL) 1985, Detroit Lions 1988-89; Green Bay Packers 1990-91. College coach: Hampton University 1992-94, West Virginia 1995-98. Pro coach: Joined Browns in 1999.

John Hufnagel, quarterbacks; born September 13, 1951, Pittsburgh, lives in Cleveland. Quarterback Penn State. Pro quarterback Denver Broncos, Calgary Stampeders (CFL) 1976-79, Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) 1980-83, 1987, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) 1984-85. Pro coach: Calgary Stampeders (CFL), New Jersey Red Dogs (Arena Football) 1997-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Tim Jorgensen, strength; born April 21, 1955, St. Louis, Mo., lives in Cleveland. Guard Southwest Missouri State 1974-76. No pro playing experience. College coach: Southwest Missouri State 1977-78, Alabama 1979, Louisiana State 1980-83. Pro coach: Philadelphia Eagles 1984-86, Atlanta Falcons 1987-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Mark Michaels, special teams quality control; born August 15, 1963, Kingston, Pa., lives in Cleveland. Linebacker Connecticut 1982-85. No pro playing experience. College coach: New Haven 1987-1990, Brown 1994-97, Massachusetts 1998. Pro coach: Helsinki Roosters (Finnish Maple League) 1991, Utah Pioneers (Professional Spring Football League) 1992, joined Browns in 1999.

Bob Palcic, offensive line; born July 2, 1948, Gowanda, N.Y., lives in Cleveland. Linebacker Dayton 1968-70. No pro playing experience. College coach: Dayton 1974-75, Ball State 1976-77, Wisconsin 1978-81, Arizona 1984-85, Ohio State 1086-91, Southern Cal 1992, UCLA 1993. Pro coach: Atlanta Falcons 1994-96, Detroit Lions 1997-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Ray Perkins, tight ends; born November 6, 1941, Mount Olive, Miss., lives in Cleveland. Wide receiver Alabama. Pro receiver 1967-72. College coach: Mississippi State 1973, Alabama 1983-86, Arkansas State 1992. Pro coach: New England Patriots 1974-77, 1993-96, San Diego Chargers 1978, Oakland Raiders 1997, N.Y. Giants 1979-82, Tampa Bay 1987-90. Joined Browns in 1999.

Dick Portee, running backs; born April 20, 1942, Decatur, Ill., lives in Cleveland. Defensive back Eastern Illinois 1962-65. College coach: Illinois State 1969-1976, Maryland 1981-89, North Carolina State 1990-98. Pro coach: Joined Browns in 1999.

Bob Slowik, defensive coordinator; born May 16, 1954, Pittsburgh, Pa., lives in Cleveland. Cornerback Delaware 1973-76. No pro playing experience. College coach: Delaware 1977, Florida 1978-81, Drake 1982, Rutgers 1983, East Carolina 1984-91. Pro coach: Dallas Cowboys 1992, Chicago Bears 1993-98. Joined Browns in 1999.

Aril Smith, assistant strength coach; born January 27, 1959, Philadelphia, lives in Cleveland. Defensive line Millersville 1978-81. No pro playing experience. College coach: Millersville 1993-98. Pro coach: Joined Browns in 1999.

Tony Sparano, offensive quality control; born October 7, 1961, West Haven, Conn., lives in Cleveland. Center New Haven 1979-82. College coach: New Haven 1982-1985, 1994-98, Boston University 1988-93. Pro coach: San Diego Chargers 1986-87. Joined Browns in 1999.

Ken Whisenhunt, special teams; born February 28, 1962, Atlanta, Ga., lives in Cleveland. Tight end Georgia Tech 1980-1984. Pro tight end Atlanta Falcons 1985-1988, Washington Redskins 1989-1990, New York Jets 1991-1993. College coach: Vanderbilt 1995-1996. Pro coach: Baltimore Ravens 1997-98. Joined Browns in 1999.