Greg McMahon: Special Teams Game Planning

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Greg McMahon – a NFL coaching veteran with unmatched expertise in special teams play - enters his third season as LSU's special teams coordinator in 2020. McMahon, who won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, joined the LSU staff as an analyst in 2017 before taking over as special teams coordinator a year later.

McMahon joins Bill Johnson, James Cregg and Kevin Faulk as coaches on the LSU staff to win both a Super Bowl and a national title at the collegiate level. 

The play of LSU’s special teams since McMahon took over that unit has gone a long way in the Tigers posting a 28-3 overall mark and claiming both the SEC and CFP National titles during that two-year span. LSU has led the SEC in points by kicking in back-to-back years. 

In 2019, true freshman Cade York led the SEC and ranked No. 2 nationally in points by a kicker with 152, while kickoff specialist Avery Atkins led the nation in touchbacks (110) and finished No. 3 in touchback percentage (83.9). Three-year starting punter Zach Von Rosenberg averaged 42.8 yards on 47 punts with 21 of those being downed inside the 20-yard line. 

York, who earned second team All-SEC honors as well as being a Freshman All-SEC selection, became the first player in LSU history with two 50-yard field goals in a game and he’s one of only two kickers in school history to have four 50-yard field goals in a season. He finished his rookie season by connecting on 21-of-27 field goals and going 89-of-93 on extra-point attempts. 

LSU also accounted for two special teams touchdowns – one punt return and one return of a blocked punt. 

McMahon's impact on LSU's special teams was nothing short of remarkable in 2018 as the Tigers rode the leg of record-setting kicker Cole Tracy, along with the punting of Von Rosenberg and kickoff ability of Atkins to a 10-3 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory.

In his first full season in charge of LSU special teams, McMahon's unit set or tied seven school-records, including field goals in a game (5 vs. Georgia), field goals in a season (29), longest field goal (54 yards by Tracy vs. Miami) and points by kicking in a game (18 by Tracy vs. Georgia).

The Tigers led the SEC in points scored by kicking (129) and field goals made (29), finished second in the league in kickoff returns (24.7) and were third in net punting (41.0).

Prior to his arrival as an analyst for the Tigers in the fall of 2017, McMahon spent 11 years with the New Orleans Saints, the first two as assistant special teams coordinator followed by nine seasons as special teams coordinator. During his 11 years with the Saints, special teams play under McMahon was defined by solid performances in the kicking game, coverage units and by the return specialists.

McMahon, a graduate of Eastern Illinois, served on the coaching staff at Illinois for 13 years before transitioning to the NFL. At Illinois, McMahon coached wide receivers for five years and then spent eight years coaching special teams and the tight ends. McMahon was part of the 2001 Illinois staff that won the Big 10 and faced LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Under McMahon's watch, the Saints recovered 15 fumbles on special teams, scored 12 touchdowns – including seven on punt returns – and blocked three punts, five field goals and three extra points. With McMahon on staff, the Saints made five playoff appearances, won the NFC South three times and claimed the franchise's first Super Bowl championship with a 31-17 win over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

As the special teams coordinator for the Saints, McMahon was responsible for some of the best special teams play in franchise history. In the biggest win in Saints history – the Super Bowl victory over the Colts – New Orleans became the first team to successfully execute an onside kick prior to the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl. Called “Ambush”, the Saints shifted the momentum of the game in their favor with the onside kick to open the second half, going from down 10-6 at halftime to taking a 13-10 advantage following the onside kick.