Cortez leaving Stampeders' staff: report
Renowned CFL assistant to be named quarterbacks coach of NFL's Bills
The Calgary Stampeders have retained defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, but offensive guru George Cortez appears set to flee the team and Canadian Football League.
A 19-year CFL coach, the offensive co-ordinator is said to be close to a deal with the National Football League's Buffalo Bills to be their quarterbacks coach, the Calgary Herald reported.
Cortez, 58, has spent the last four seasons with the Stampeders. He had two previous stints in Calgary from 1992 to '94 and 1997 to 2001.
In 12 years with the Stampeders, Cortez has helped the team to five Grey Cup appearances, with victories in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2008.
Most recently, he was mentioned as a candidate for head-coaching vacancies in Toronto and Winnipeg.
Over the years, Cortez has helped develop CFL star quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia, who went on to have success in the NFL. Dave Dickenson and Henry Burris are two other signal-callers who excelled under his watch.
Cortez first joined Calgary in 1992 as offensive line coach and stayed for three seasons before heading to Southern Methodist University for two campaigns.
He was also offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of California from 2002 to 2006, tutoring first-round NFL picks Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers.
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