Just call him Coach Lechler.
Shane Lechler, entering his 17th NFL season, has enough experience to earn that title.
“A guy like Shane Lechler, he could coach for us." Bill O’Brien said Jan. 7. "He's a very bright guy who understands a lot of different situations and special teams play.”
Being a six-time All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowler, and owning the best gross punting average in NFL history (47.5) does give Lechler credibility among his teammates. It may have been why O’Brien had Lechler take on a bigger role during the past season.
“We do a neat thing on Saturday mornings where we have a special teams meeting run by Shane Lechler and at the end of his meeting, he has a player stand up and talk about their personal story,” O’Brien said during his radio program last season.