Tag: jerry gray

Falcons request interview with ex-Titans DC Jerry Gray

The Falcons are interested in interviewing former Titans DC Jerry Gray for their defensive coordinator position.

Since former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he’s been bringing aboard several former Titans, and even got Dean Pees out of retirement.

But with Pees now re-retired, the Falcons are in the market for a new defensive coordinator and are considering yet another former Titans defensive coordinator for the job.

According to Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, the Falcons have asked to interview Gray for their defensive coordinator job. He is currently the defensive backs/passing-game coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

Gray actually spent two stints with Tennessee, holding three different jobs.

He was defensive quality control coach for the Tennessee Oilers from 1997-98, Titans defensive backs coach from 1999-00, and then defensive coordinator from 2011-13.

Prior to his current role with the Packers, Gray served as defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2014-19) and then had the same role with Green Bay in 2020.

Gray has crossed paths with the Falcons head coach twice, once in Washington and once in Tennessee.

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Veteran assistant Jerry Gray to call plays for Packers defense vs. Cardinals

Long-time assistant coach Jerry Gray will call plays for the Packers defense on Thursday against the Cardinals.

The Green Bay Packers will call on veteran assistant coach Jerry Gray to call plays for the defense without defensive coordinator Joe Barry available for Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals.

Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Gray would be the playcaller on Tuesday.

“Yeah, so, Jerry will call it,” LaFleur said. “Certainly, it will still be a collective effort from all the guys. We have a lot of confidence in our defensive staff. ‘KO’ (linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti) will communicate the call to ‘Dre’ (linebacker De’Vondre Campbell) on the field. That’s how we’ll roll.”

Barry, the defense’s first-year coordinator, tested positive for COVID-19 and is expected to miss Thursday night’s showdown with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.

Gray is by far the most experienced playcaller on the Packers defensive staff. A former Pro Bowl defensive back, he was previously the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2001-05) and Tennessee Titans (2011-13). He’s been with the Packers coaching the secondary since 2020. LaFleur promoted him to passing game coordinator to start 2021.

Gray, a native of Lubbock, Texas, has coached at the NFL level since 1997.

The Packers rank seventh in the NFL in both yards allowed and points allowed through the first seven weeks. The defense is also tied for seventh in takeaways, 10th in yards allowed per play and 12th in percentage of drives ending in scores.

The matchup against the Cardinals will be Green Bay’s toughest of the season. Murray, now in Year 3, is a legitimate MVP candidate entering Week 8. He’s leading the fourth-ranked offense by points scored, and the Cardinals are loaded at wide receiver. Arizona has scored 30 or more points in six of seven games this season.

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Report: Packers will interview DBs coach Jerry Gray for defensive coordinator job

At least one member of Mike Pettine’s defensive coaching staff from the 2020 season will get a chance to replace him as defensive coordinator in Green Bay. 

At least one member of Mike Pettine’s defensive coaching staff from the 2020 season will get a chance to replace him as defensive coordinator in Green Bay.

According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, the Packers will interview defensive backs coach Jerry Gray as an in-house candidate for the defensive coordinator job.

Gray, 58, is a former first-round pick and four-time Pro Bowl player who has been a defensive coach in the NFL since 1997, including two different stints as a defensive coordinator. He led the Buffalo Bills defense from 2001-05 and the Tennessee Titans defense from 2011-13.

Gray’s defenses ranked in the top 10 in points allowed three times but also 24th or worse four times.

For six years, Gray was Mike Zimmer’s defensive backs coach with the Minnesota Vikings. Last season, he joined Pettine’s staff as the defensive backs coach, helping Jaire Alexander, Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage create career-best individual seasons. Alexander was both a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro.

As of Tuesday, Gray is the only member of the Packers defensive staff to get an interview.

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Bleacher Report lists Texas among schools who are ‘Defense U’

Bleacher Report is wrapping up a series in positional “U”, in which they crowned the top defensive school. The Longhorns were among them.

It seems to be an ongoing debate. Who is “DBU” or defensive back university. The usual suspects are Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, Louisiana State or Texas. Bleacher Report posed the question of who can claim “Defense U”. Texas was among the teams who made the cut just outside of the top three.

The top three schools should come as no shock with Florida State, Southern California and Miami (FL). The basis of the argument dates back from 1970 to current. For the Longhorns, they were the last team listed in the honorable mentions.

Casey Hampton, Doug English and Steve McMichael on the defensive line. Derrick Johnson and Brian Orakpo at linebacker. Earl Thomas, Jerry Gray and Raymond Clayborn in the secondary. There are no “best of all time” candidates in the bunch, but that’s a nice collection of alumni at all three levels of the defense, featuring a dozen multiple-time Pro Bowlers. That combination of factors made Texas the toughest school to cut out of our top three.

Prior to 1970, there was a man named Tommy Nobis who was viewed as one of the all-time greats in college football. However, bases on the criteria he was just outside of their scope as he finished his collegiate career in 1965. Had B/R expanded their list to a top five, the Longhorns are likely listed at number four of the greatest defensive talent schools in the last 50 years.

Other notable names that played defense at Texas were defensive end Bill Atessis (1968-70), defensive back Johnnie Johnson (1976-79), and defensive end Kiki DeAyla (1979-82). DeAyla still holds the school record for most sacks in a season (22.5 sacks) and for a career (40.5).

New Packers DB coach has the knowledge to get Jaire Alexander to the next level

Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray is confident he has the knowledge to help get talented young CB Jaire Alexander to the next level.

New Green Bay Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray sees the immense talent in cornerback Jaire Alexander and believes he has the depth of knowledge needed to get the third-year cornerback to the next level.

Gray’s history developing the position can’t be denied. He named five different cornerbacks who he helped develop into a top player as a coach, including Samari Rolle, DeAngelo Hall, Nate Clements, Antonie Winfield and Xavier Rhodes.

Gray compared Alexander, who intercepted two passes and broke up 17 others in 2019, to both Rolle and Hall.

“You have a young, very energetic guy who made a lot of plays last year on a really good defense,” Gray said during a Zoom call on Thursday. “When I look at Jai, he reminds a lot of Samari Rolle, when I had Samari in Tennessee. They aren’t really big guys but they were physical, they have really great cover skills and excellent ability to see. A lot of times, guys don’t have that vision, to see the quarterback and the receiver at the same time. DeAngelo Hall had that. When you got guys who have that type of skill, that’s a big plus.”

The biggest question Gray asks Alexander: “Where do you want to go?”

Nine years in the NFL – including four Pro Bowl seasons – and a quarter-century of coaching defensive backs provides Gray with all the tools he needs to push Alexander and the other Packers cornerbacks to greater heights.

“I can help him. Like I tell all the young guys, I have the knowledge to get you where you want to go. Now it’s up to you to want to work and get there,” Gray said.

Still only 23, Alexander is ascending as a player and will have an opportunity in 2020 to make the jump from an above-average starter to a legitimate star.

Gray said Alexander needs to follow in the footsteps of his past disciples if he wants to make cement his status as one of the NFL’s best corners.

“They took the knowledge, they went out there and played, played at a high level and became one of the highest-paid guys in the league,” Gray said. “If that’s their goal, I can help you get there. If you want to be a Pro Bowl guy, I can help you get there. If you want to be All-Pro, I can try to get you there.”

While Gray provides the teaching, the player must complete the rest.

“I’ll give you knowledge but you have to put the work in,” Gray said.

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New Packers DBs coach could provide big boost for Darnell Savage

New DBs coach Jerry Gray could be a great addition for the development of Packers S Darnell Savage.

Arguably no player will benefit more from the Green Bay Packers hiring veteran defensive backs coach Jerry Gray than young safety Darnell Savage.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday that the Packers are picking Gray, who spent the last six years with the Minnesota Vikings, to replace Jason Simmons on Matt LaFleur’s coaching staff.

A first-round pick who started 16 of 18 games as a rookie in 2019, Savage could blossom as a player under a coach who has helped develop several great safeties in the NFL.

Gray, a first-round pick himself in 1985, has coached notable safeties such as Sean Taylor, Harrison Smith, Earl Thomas, Blaine Bishop, Lawyer Milloy, LaRon Landry, Michael Griffin and Anthony Harris, among others.

With the Vikings, Gray oversaw the development of Smith, a first-round pick and five-time Pro Bowler, and Anthony Harris, a former undrafted free agent who broke out with nine interceptions the last two seasons. Smith roams all over the field and can change games as a three-level defender, while Harris emerged as one of the NFL’s highest-graded overall safeties over the last few seasons. The Packers know both well.

In 2010, Gray was the defensive backs coach in Seattle, where he supervised the rookie season of Thomas, who produced five interceptions and began charting his path as one of the NFL’s best safeties.

During both the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Taylor was a Pro Bowl safety with Gray as his position coach in Washington. He intercepted six passes and forced four fumbles during the two seasons. Landry, a first-round pick in 2007, had arguably his two best NFL seasons playing for Gray.

Savage has all the attributes of a great safety. He’s lightning fast, with playmaking instincts and versatility. He flashed potential as a rookie, tallying a pair of interceptions and two forced fumbles. Now, Savage needs refinement and development, and Gray could be just the coach to push him to the next level.

He’ll know a good safety when he sees one, and Savage impressed everyone in Green Bay with his ability to learn the playbook and play fast as a rookie.

A legitimate second-year jump from Savage in 2020 could drastically change the Packers defense. Under Gray and Mike Zimmer, the Vikings finished in the top 10 for passing yards allowed four times in six years and in the top eight in net passing yards allowed per attempt each of the last four years. Zimmer’s scheme and the development of the secondary were big reasons why.

The defensive backs coach looks like an important position in Green Bay, where the Packers have Savage and young cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Josh Jackson and Chandon Sullivan on the roster. It’s a secondary overflowing with talent.

Gray will be charged with getting the most out of the group, starting next season.

The former Vikings assistant will bring years of teaching defensive backs and an unquestionable ability to develop he safety position to Green Bay. Can Gray turn Savage, an All-Rookie pick in 2019, into his next great pupil?

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Former Vikings DB coach Jerry Gray interviewing with Packers

Gray had been with the Vikings since 2014.

It was reported earlier this month that Vikings’ long-time defensive backs coach Jerry Gray will not be returning to Minnesota.

Instead, he could be going to the team’s biggest rival.

Per Tom Silverstein, Gray interviewed with the Packers to be their defensive backs coach.

Gray had been with the Vikings since 2014. Prior to that, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Titans and Bills.

Report: Packers pick former Vikings assistant Jerry Gray to be new DBs coach

The Packers are hiring Jerry Gray to be the team’s new defensive backs coach.

The Green Bay Packers are hiring a former assistant from Mike Zimmer’s staff in Minnesota to fill an important job on Mike Pettine’s defensive staff in Green Bay.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers picked former Vikings assistant Jerry Gray to be the team’s new defensive backs coach, replacing Jason Simmons.

Gray, a former defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills (2001-05) and Tennessee Titans (2011-13), spent the last six years as the defensive backs coach for Zimmer and the Vikings.

A first-round pick who made four Pro Bowls over a nine-year career as an NFL player, Gray joined the coaching ranks in 1999 and has been coaching defensive backs as a position coach or coordinator ever since. He coached safety Harrison Smith to five Pro Bowls and cornerback Xavier Rhodes to three Pro Bowls while with the Vikings.

Zimmer let Gray go following the 2019 season. The Vikings have finished in the top 10 of pass defense DVOA for five straight seasons.

The Packers needed an experienced defensive backs coach to take over for Simmons, who is departing for Carolina. The secondary is filled with young talent and high draft picks, such as cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Kevin King and Josh Jackson and safety Darnell Savage.

Report: Packers interview long-time Vikings assistant for open DB coach job

Jerry Gray, who served under Mike Zimmer, recently interviewed for the Packers’ open DB coach job.

The Green Bay Packers are exploring outside candidates in an effort to fill the team’s vacant defensive backs coaching job.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers recently interviewed former Minnesota Vikings assistant Jerry Gray, who served six seasons as the defensive backs coach under Mike Zimmer.

Jason Simmons, last year’s defensive backs coach in Green Bay, left the Packers for a job with the Carolina Panthers.

Gray, a first-round pick in 1985 who played nine seasons in the NFL, has been in coaching since 1999. He was the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills (2001-05) and Tennessee Titans (2011-13) and the defensive backs coach for the Titans (1999-2000), Washington Redskins (2006-09), Seattle Seahawks (2010) and Vikings (2014-19).

The Packers’ defensive backs coaching job is an important one. The secondary features young, developing players such as Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Josh Jackson and Darnell Savage. Gray, who helped Zimmer build the Vikings into one of the top defenses, could be the right man to help Mike Pettine and his staff get the Packers secondary to the next level.

Gray, 57, is a Texas native. He is a College Football Hall of Famer and a four-time Pro Bowl pick.

Vikings DB coach Jerry Gray will not return to team in 2020

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said he’s someone who could join Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland.

The changes on Minnesota’s coaching staff continue.

We already know that offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns, and that defensive coordinator George Edwards will not return in 2020.

Along with that, defensive backs coach Jerry Gray will not be back with the team in 2020. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said he’s someone who could join Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland.

Gray has been with the Vikings since 2014, the first season that coach Mike Zimmer took over.