| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1955-01-16)January 16, 1955 (age 70) Daly City, California, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school | El Camino (South San Francisco, California) |
| College | San Diego State |
| Career history | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Mike Solari (born January 16, 1955) is an Americanfootball coach and former player. Solari has previously worked for five otherNational Football League (NFL) teams, including a stint asoffensive coordinator of theKansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2007. He playedcollegiately as anoffensive lineman atSan Diego State University.
Solari got his start as playing both ways atEl Camino High School inSouth San Francisco, California (Class of 1973), where he was a standout, particularly on the offensive side of the ball (tackle). His next stop was as an offensive lineman atCollege of San Mateo. He then moved ontoSan Diego State, where his teammates included two other JC transfers, future NFL head coachesHerman Edwards andJohn Fox.
After SDSU, Solari coached at the high school level in Southern California, for theMission Bay Pirates in the Pacific Beach sector of San Diego, and as a wrestling and assistant track coach atOrange Glen High School in 1978–79. Next he began his college coaching career at nearbyMiraCosta College, a community college in Oceanside. He then went toUnited States International University (USIU) as an assistant football coach onTom Walsh's staff.
Solari spent time atBoise State,Cincinnati,Alabama,Kansas andPittsburgh as assistant football coach.
He was with theDallas Cowboys as assistant offensive line coach and special teams coach.
Solari joined theSan Francisco 49ers in1992 as tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach. There he won aSuper Bowl ring as a member of1994 49ers coaching staff.
In1997, he joined the Kansas City Chiefs as their O-line coach. And for many years, tutored some of the best lineman in the NFL, includingPro Football Hall of FamersWill Shields andWillie Roaf. Upon the retirement ofDick Vermeil and the signing of incumbent OCAl Saunders byWashington, Solari was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2006. After the conclusion of the 2007 season, Solari was fired by the Chiefs following a 4–12 season and was replaced by formerGeorgia Tech head coach and long-time NFL coachChan Gailey.[1]
Solari joined theSeahawks staff in2008, he changed its offensive line scheme to more zone blocking.[2]
On January 21,2010, Solari was named offensive line coach for theSan Francisco 49ers.[3]
Solari joined thePackers staff as an offensive line assistant following the 2014 season.[4]
On January 21,2016, Solari was hired by theNew York Giants as offensive line coach.[5]
On January 15,2018, Solari was rehired by theSeattle Seahawks as their offensive line coach.[6]
On February 5, 2023, Solari returned to theDallas Cowboys, being hired as the team's offensive line coach.[7]