Keith Armstrong

Biography

Keith Armstrong’s special teams units established a new NFL record by holding opponents to just a mere 43 punt return yards all season, besting the Buffalo Bills’ old record of 49 yards in 1991

But it is the sum of Armstrong’s parts that make his units so special. Armstrong’s troops finished 10th in the League in overall special teams play, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin, who compiles a comprehensive and well-respected list of special teams rankings each season. Some of the areas where Armstrong’s ‘teams’ excelled included ...

Explosive kickoff returner Jerious Norwood notched 1,311 yards on 51 attempts for a 25.7 average that was good enough for the fourth-highest mark in the NFC. Norwood’s five returns for 192 yards against St. Louis in Week 17 marked the seventh-highest total in a single-game in team history. The electrifying Norwood provides Armstrong with a “home run threat” every time he touches the ball and was evidenced by his long returns of 92 (vs. St. Louis) and 85 yards (vs. Chicago) in ’08. Norwood’s career average of 25.4 currently ranks second all-time in team annals.

Punt returner Harry Douglas ranked fifth in the NFC in punt returns yards with 226 for an 11.9 average after taking over the full-time duties in Week 6. Douglas garnered NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors against the Carolina Panthers in a Week 12 victory when he recorded his first career punt return touchdown of 61 yards in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Falcons. He finished the game with three run backs for 93 yards.

Keith Armstrong’s successful resume was a strong reason that Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith chose the 45-year old Levittown, Pa. native when he was searching for a coach to lead his special teams in Atlanta.

Armstrong joined the Falcons following seven seasons in the same capacity for the Miami Dolphins. The 15-year NFL coaching veteran was instrumental in 2007 in helping punt returner Ted Ginn, Jr. finish fourth in the AFC with a 9.6 return average. The 9.6 average was also the 10th best mark in the entire NFL among all punt returners. Ginn also returned 63 kickoffs for 1,433 yards and a 22.7 yard per return average. With Armstrong’s coaching, K Jay Feeley connected on 21 of 23 field goals for a 91.3% success rate, which was ranked second in the League just behind Pittsburgh’s 92.0% mark.

From 2001-2006, the Dolphins finished in the top eight in the NFL in punt return defense all but one season under Armstrong’s positive direction. During that same time frame, Miami opponents averaged 6.1 yards per punt return, including a 4.5 yard mark in 2001 when they led the League in the category, and a 4.9 yard average (third in NFL) in 2005. In 2003, the Dolphins ranked first in the NFL in opponents’ average starting field position with a 25.0-yard line mark and finished second in the same category in 2006 with a 24.9 figure. Over that same time period, the Dolphins special teams under Armstrong’s leadership only surrendered just one punt or kickoff return for a touchdown, which was tied with Dallas for the fewest number in the League.

Prior to landing in Miami, Armstrong served in the same role with the Chicago Bears from 1997-2000. In 2000, Chicago’s special teams unit ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return defense, allowing an average of just 7.0 yards per return. In his four seasons in Chicago, the Bears special teams ranked in the top 10 in the League in punt return average, punt coverage and kickoff coverage twice in each category

Armstrong earned his start in the NFL with the Falcons in 1994 as the safeties coach. In 1996, he was promoted to run the entire secondary. Before his full-time positions in the NFL, he was part of the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program during training camps in New York Jets (1991), Dallas (1992) and Chicago (1993).

Armstrong coached his way through the collegiate ranks before joining the NFL. He garnered four letters as a running back and defensive back at Temple University from 1983-1986 before joining the school as a graduate assistant in 1987. Armstrong then joined the University of Miami as the defensive backs and special teams coach for one season (1988) before coaching the wide receivers at the University of Akron (1989). His last two stops in college before joining the Falcons came at Oklahoma State as the secondary coach from 1990-1992 and Notre Dame as the linebackers and special teams coach in 1993

Keith and his wife, Kathleen, have two daughters, Kaitlin and Kristen.

Keith Armstrong’s Coaching Background

• 2008-2009 -- Special Teams Coordinator // Atlanta Falcons
• 2007 -- Special Teams Coordinator // Miami Dolphins
• 2001-2006 -- Special Teams Coach // Miami Dolphins
• 1997-2000 -- Special Teams Coach // Chicago Bears
• 1996 -- Secondary Coach // Atlanta Falcons
• 1994-1995 -- Safeties Coach // Atlanta Falcons
• 1993 -- Linebackers/Special Teams Coach // Notre Dame
• 1990-1992 -- Secondary Coach // Oklahoma State
• 1989 -- Wide Receivers Coach // University of Akron
• 1988 -- Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coach // University of Miami (Fla.)
• 1987 -- Graduate Assistant // Temple University