Career
Teerlinck coached 32 National Football League playoff games, including six Championship games and four Super Bowls. Teerlinck earned three Super Bowl rings with two teams (Denver Broncos 1998, 1999 and Indianapolis Colts 2006). Regarded by some as the greatest defensive line coach of all time, Teerlinck established an NFL presence in the early "90s.
"John Teerlinck is kind of like Mr.
Miyagi," John Randle said. "He"s very unorthodox.
A different breed. Rough around the edges.
He tells you things that are funny, but they register if you just listen. That"s why he"s the guru." Both Doleman and Randle have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2010, Teerlinck became only the nth assistant coach selected to present a player at a Hall of Fame Induction when he presented Randle. With four different teams, Teerlinck either set the record or came in second in total sacks, historically (Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts).
In his tenure, Teerlinck coached seven players (Doleman, Kevin Greene, Randle, Bubba Baker, Neil Smith, Freeney and Robert Mathis) to reach 100 career sacks, the ultimate benchmark for a defensive lineman.
While in college at Western Illinois, he studied Fred Dryer and employed those moves in his play, "We used to get New York Giants games at Western and I'd watch Number. 89, Fred Dryer, and copy his moves", Teerlinck said. 1978-1979 Eastern Illinois University (District of Columbia) 1980-1982 University of Illinois (Assistant) 1989-1990 Cleveland Browns (Doctor of Laws) 1991 Los Angeles Rams (Doctor of Laws) 1992-1994 Minnesota Vikings (Doctor of Laws) 1995-1996 Detroit Lions (Doctor of Laws) 1997-2001 Denver Broncos (Doctor of Laws) 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts (Doctor of Laws) Teerlinck came under fire in 1996 amid allegations that he taught his players to aim for opposing quarterbacks" knees.
The allegations were substantial enough that then-NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue summoned him to a meeting for a warning.