After high school, he attended and played college football at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU).
That year, Palmer's offense featured quarterback Doug Flutie and running back Herschel Walker, who rushed for 2,411 yards.
Four Houston wide receivers—Curtis Duncan, Ernest Givens (twice), Drew Hill and Haywood Jeffires (twice)—made the Pro Bowl while being coached by Palmer.
Following Super Bowl XXXI, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, spending the 1997–98 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks under head coach Tom Coughlin.
Palmer was fired after posting a 5–27 record in two seasons, and was succeeded by former University of Miami coach Butch Davis.
He was reunited with head coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe with whom he had worked during his days with the New England Patriots.
[2][3] In Palmer's first year with the Giants, they would go on to win Super Bowl XLII, defeating the previously undefeated New England Patriots by a score of 17–14.
[4] Following his retirement from the NFL, Palmer was named as the head coach and general manager of the United Football League's Hartford Colonials.
At the end of the season, Harbaugh left the Niners to become the head coach at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, and had released Greg Roman, the offensive coordinator, and ultimately Palmer as well.
[7] He was inducted into the New Haven Chargers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997 for his previous success as the school's head football coach.