Penn State Football Adds to Offensive Staff

Penn State Football made another addition to its staff Monday, hiring former CFL and Wisconsin quarterback Danny O’Brien.

O’Brien was a former recruiting target for the Nittany Lions as a three star recruit. Instead, he arrived on Maryland’s campus in the Fall of 2009, and shattered freshman QB records for the Terrapins, throwing for 2,438 yards and 22 touchdowns.

In 2012, O’Brien announced he was transferring to Wisconsin, and was named opening day starter, but was replaced a month later by Joel Stave. O’Brien finished his collegiate career at Catawba Colleg,e and was invited to the 2014 Medal of Honor Bowl based on his 2,490 yards passing and 15 touchdowns.

O’Brien bounced around the professional ranks, starting with the Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League, then the Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League.  He retired in 2019 to coach for the BC Lions as an Offensive Assistant Coach.

While an exact role on the Nittany Lions‘ staff hasn’t been announced, it’s stated he will be an “Offensive Analyst” and BC Lions Head Coach and Co-General Manager Rick Cambell stated:

"“We congratulate Danny on a big opportunity for a young coach working his way into the profession.  We wish him well.”"

Penn State Football has been busy building their coaching staff this offseason, announcing the hirings of Kenny Saunders, Anthony Poindexter, and of course Mike Yurcich. O’Brien is the second analyst/consultant added by head coach James Franklin, joining former Jets offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who was hired last week.