Similar to their process of hiring a head coach, the Indianapolis Colts took their time finalizing their offensive staff. They now seem on the verge of doing just that as Tom Pelissero of NFL Network has reported that the team is hiring Cam Turner as their next quarterbacks' coach.
Getting to Know Cam Turner
Turner is 35 years old and the son of former Flordia International University head coach and former Colts quarterback coach Ron Turner. Though, his NFL bloodline doesn't stop there, as he also is the nephew of former NFL head coach and great offensive mind Norv Turner.
Norv Turner is someone that new Colts head coach Shane Steichen mentioned as being a mentor during his coaching journey. Cam Turner has been coaching since 2011 when he was hired as an assistant to the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings under head coach Leslie Frazier and has since held multiple positions at the college and NFL levels:
- 2011-2012: Assistant to the Head Coach for the Minnesota Vikings
- 2013-2014: Quarterback & Wide Receivers coach for Flordia International University
- 2015-2016: Assistant Wide Receivers Coach for the Carolina Panthers
- 2017: Assistant Quarterbacks Coach for the Carolina Panthers
- 2018: Offensive Assistant Coach for the Arizona Cardinals
- 2019-2020: Assistant Quarterbacks & Offensive Assistant Coach for the Arizona Cardinals
- 2021: Quarterbacks Coach for the Arizona Cardinals
- 2022: Quarterbacks Coach & Co-Passing Game Coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals
After multiple assistant positions in the NFL, Turner finally got the opportunity to run his own room in 2021 when he became the Cardinals quarterback coach after being the assistant in the room since 2019, where he directly worked with quarterback Kyler Murray.
Since working with Turner, Murray has received accolades such as 2019 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2020 and 2021. During the 2021 season, Murray would go on to set the franchise record for completion percentage at 69.2 percent, and while only playing in 14 games, would throw for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns as well as 423 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In addition, Murray would end the year with a 100.6 passer rating, which ranked as the eighth-highest in the league and the second-highest ever for the Cardinals franchise.
Prior to working with the Cardinals, Turner was also the assistant quarterbacks coach with the Panthers, where he was able to work with Cam Newton. During that season, Newton would throw for 3,302 yards and 22 touchdowns as well as rushing for 754 yards and 6 touchdowns.
It is significant to note that Turner has gained considerable knowledge on how to work with and help mobile quarterbacks succeed at the next level by working with Murray and Newton. Even more importantly, his work with Murray from his rookie season up until last season. To pair that knowledge with Colts head coach Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter’s experience working with young quarterbacks, all three have had recent success working directly with young quarterbacks.
With this hire in the books, the Colts are now ready for the Scouting Combine that is already underway. With multiple questions still to be answered this offseason, one thing is for certain: the Colts' draft selection come April is in Indianapolis for the Combine this week.
With the staff in place, the team can now decide which quarterback Turner, Cooter, and Steichen will be charged with helping succeed at the next level.
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