Marc Colombo, a former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman who started 72 of the 76 games he played during his six-year run with the club, settled into the next phase of his NFL career as an assistant coach with the Cowboys in 2015. He was named the club's assistant offensive line coach in 2016.
In his first season as the assistant offensive line coach, Colombo worked with a unit that forged a path for the offense to finish with the second-ranked rushing attack at 149.8 yards-per-game and the league's rushing leader (Ezekiel Elliott, 1,631 yards). The line saw three players start all 16 games (Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Doug Free), with Tyron Smith, Frederick and Martin all finishing the season as first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. Dallas' offense finished second in time of possession (31:41), first in five-minute drives (35), second in big-play runs (72) and third in scoring efficiency, putting points on the board on 43.9% of possessions. Rookie Dak Prescott had ample time in the pocket to complete 67.8% of his passes (fourth) and throw 23 touchdowns versus four interceptions - the only rookie quarterback in NFL history with an interception percentage (0.9%) of less than one.
As an assistant working mainly with the offensive line in 2015, three linemen earned Pro Bowl nods, with T. Smith (third), Frederick (second) and Martin (second) each earning the honor. The line helped Darren Mc- Fadden rush for his second career 1,000-yard season (1,089) on a career-high 239 carries.
Colombo retired in 2012 as a Cowboy and joined the team during the 2014 season as an assistant in the personnel department. He then joined the coaching
staff in 2015 to help supplement the loss of offensive line/offensive coordinator Bill Callahan, working with one of the most talented front groups in the NFL.
Drafted in the first round (29th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, Colombo played in 10 games with five starts at tackle for the Chicago Bears before a knee injury ended his season and caused him to miss the entire 2003 season. He returned with the Bears to play in eight games with two starts in 2004 but was waived in September 2005 and signed with Dallas, playing in four games the remainder of the season.
Colombo assumed a starting role at right tackle for the Cowboys in 2006, and went on to start 72 games at the position over the next five seasons, playing a key role in one of the top scoring offenses in the NFL with an average of 25.0 points-per-game from 2006-10.
Colombo ended his playing career with the Miami Dolphins in 2011 after starting all 16 games at tackle. Throughout his collegiate career at Boston College, Colombo helped pave the way for a strong rushing attack that produced a 1,000-yard rusher each of his four years on the offensive line, and kept his quarterback upright as well, not surrendering a sack during his final two years as a starter (2000-01). He earned All-Big East Conference honors as a senior in 2001 playing both tackle positions for a offense that produced 4,361 yards and ranked in the top-20 nationally in rushing.
Colombo graduated from Boston College with a degree in sociology in 2001.
He and his wife, Jessica, have a daughter, Olivia, and a son, Jack.
