Although the Oakland Raiders’ signing of Vontaze Burfict may have caught some off guard, the move made plenty of sense considering his ties to defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.
Guenther arrived alongside head coach Jon Gruden’s return to coaching. Prior to the 2018 NFL season, he had been a longtime assistant coach for the Cincinnati Bengals.
He became well-acquainted with Burfict during his rise as one of the most controversial players in the league. It is clear Guenther made quite the impression on the young linebacker at the time.
According to Eddie Paskal of the team’s official website, Burfict says Guenther made his decision to join the Raiders that much easier:
“He [Guenther] was originally my linebackers coach my rookie year for Cincinnati, and just as soon as I walked in the building, we clicked,” Burfict explained. “He taught me how to play the game in the NFL at a high level, understand the playbook, be a leader, be a vocal leader, understanding where everybody’s at on the defense. It helped me tremendously. Like I said, when he left, I felt like a lost soul.”
Burfict’s comments are certainly understandable. Position coaches often have the most impact on a young player’s career and it ultimately proved to be beneficial for both sides.
Guenther was eventually named defensive coordinator in Cincinnati for four seasons before coming to Oakland. Meanwhile, Burfict enjoyed his best year’s under his tutelage as one of the NFL’s most tenacious defenders.
Burfict’s best season came in 2013 when he registered 171 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and an interception en route to second-team All-Pro honors along with his first and only career trip to the Pro Bowl. It is safe to say he is hoping Guenther can help him get back to playing at a high level in Oakland moving forward.
