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Defensive coordinator
 
 
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A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 team who is in charge of the defense
Defense (sport)

In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense....
. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart
Offensive coordinator

An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a American football team who is in charge of the offense . Generally, along with his defensive coordinator, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach....
, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach
Head coach

A head coach is a professional at training and developing sports men and women. He is typically paid more than other coach . Other coaches are often subordinate to the head coach, often in offense positions or defense positions, and occasionally proceeding down into individualized position coaches....
. The defensive coordinator is generally in charge of managing all defensive players and assistant coaches, of developing a general defensive game plan, and of calling the plays for the defense during the game.






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A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 team who is in charge of the defense
Defense (sport)

In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense....
. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart
Offensive coordinator

An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a American football team who is in charge of the offense . Generally, along with his defensive coordinator, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach....
, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach
Head coach

A head coach is a professional at training and developing sports men and women. He is typically paid more than other coach . Other coaches are often subordinate to the head coach, often in offense positions or defense positions, and occasionally proceeding down into individualized position coaches....
. The defensive coordinator is generally in charge of managing all defensive players and assistant coaches, of developing a general defensive game plan, and of calling the plays for the defense during the game. A defensive coordinator typically has a number of assistant coaches working under him; usually coaches primarily responsible for the various defensive positions on the team (such defensive line, linebacker
Linebacker

File:Glennon_under_center_ACC_championship.jpgA Linebacker is a position in American football and Canadian football that was invented by football coach Fielding Yost of the University of Michigan....
s, or defensive back
Defensive back

In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of scrimmage....
s).

Noted current and former NFL defensive coordinators

  • Bill Belichick
    Bill Belichick

    William Stephen Belichick is the American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 Cleveland Browns season....
    *, 1985–1990 New York Giants
    New York Giants

    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team plays its home games at Giants Stadium, which also serves as its headquarters, and trains at an adjacent practice facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex....
  • Tony Dungy
    Tony Dungy

    Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008....
    *, 1984–1988 Pittsburgh Steelers
    Pittsburgh Steelers

    The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League) ....
    , 1992–1995 Minnesota Vikings
    Minnesota Vikings

    The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings compete in the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
  • Jim Johnson
    Jim Johnson (football coach)

    Jim Johnson is an American football coach, currently serving as defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, Johnson is known as being a master architect of Blitz , disguising them skillfully and keeping offenses constantly off-balance....
     1994–1997 Indianapolis Colts
    Indianapolis Colts

    The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team is part of the American Football Conference South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    , 1998 Seattle Seahawks
    Seattle Seahawks

    The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington, USA. They are currently members of the NFC West of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    , 1999–present Philadelphia Eagles
    Philadelphia Eagles

    The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. They are members of the NFC East of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
  • Monte Kiffin
    Monte Kiffin

    Monte Kiffin is an American football coach. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history....
    , 1995–2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are aprofessional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the NFC South of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
     2009–Present Tennessee Volunteers
    Tennessee Volunteers

    The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association teams at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee....
  • Tom Landry
    Tom Landry

    Thomas Wade Landry was an American football player and coach. He is legendary for his successes as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in NFL history....
    *, 1956–1959 New York Giants
    New York Giants

    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team plays its home games at Giants Stadium, which also serves as its headquarters, and trains at an adjacent practice facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex....
  • Bill Parcells
    Bill Parcells

    Bill Parcells is the current Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He is also a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2007....
    *, 1979–1983 New York Giants
    New York Giants

    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team plays its home games at Giants Stadium, which also serves as its headquarters, and trains at an adjacent practice facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex....
  • Dick LeBeau
    Dick LeBeau

    Charles Richard ?Dick? LeBeau is a former American football player and is currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator. He spent 14 years in the NFL as a player and is in his 36th as a coach....
    *, 1992–1996. 2004–present Pittsburgh Steelers
    Pittsburgh Steelers

    The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League) ....
  • Buddy Ryan
    Buddy Ryan

    James David "Buddy" Ryan on February 17, 1934) is a former American football coach....
    *, 1976–1977 Minnesota Vikings
    Minnesota Vikings

    The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings compete in the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    , 1978–1985 Chicago Bears
    Chicago Bears

    The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the NFC North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
    , 1993 Houston Oilers
  • Lovie Smith
    Lovie Smith

    Lovie Lee Smith is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional American football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 NFL season Saint Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006 Chicago Bears season....
    *, 2001–2003 St. Louis Rams
    St. Louis Rams

    The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the NFC West of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
  • Marty Schottenheimer
    Marty Schottenheimer

    Martin Edward Schottenheimer is a former American football coach. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers....
    *, 1977–1979 New York Giants
    New York Giants

    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team plays its home games at Giants Stadium, which also serves as its headquarters, and trains at an adjacent practice facility within the Meadowlands Sports Complex....
    , 1980–1984 Cleveland Browns
    Cleveland Browns

    The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, Ohio. They play in the AFC North division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....


Note: Defensive coordinators marked with a * served as head coaches at some point during their career

See also

  • American football strategy
    American football strategy

    American football strategy is the strategic deployment of players and assignment of tasks to offensive and defensive players of American football....
  • Offensive coordinator
    Offensive coordinator

    An offensive coordinator typically refers to the coach on a American football team who is in charge of the offense . Generally, along with his defensive coordinator, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach....