The Friday night bombshell that Nebraska’s defensive backs coach Evan Cooper had quit for personal reasons came less than a week ago.
John Butler, a coach who spent the previous season in the NFL, has been hired by Nebraska to fill the same role as secondary coach and passing game coordinator.
Butler has coached the Buffalo Bills’ secondary for the past six seasons. In 2022, he took on the role of passing game coordinator. The Buffalo Bills defense is among the finest in the National Football League, and it seems like a perfect fit for the Huskers.
An update, perhaps?
Some may be perplexed as to why John Butler would accept a reduction in status from his NFL position to one at a college with equivalent duties. It appears like he may be holding out for Tony White to take a new position, which is to be expected if he has another repeat season like the one he had last year.
The Athletic Department has released the following statement:
Butler Becomes a New Coach for Nebraska Football
The Nebraska football coaching team has added John Butler, a seasoned assistant coach with NFL and collegiate football experience. Butler will work as a secondary coach and pass game coordinator for the Husker staff under head coach Matt Rhule.
Butler joins Nebraska having played for the Buffalo Bills for the previous six seasons. With nine seasons spent in the NFL and nine years spent coaching college football, Butler has a total of 29 seasons of coaching experience.
According to Rhule, “John Butler is one of the best defensive backs coaches in football.” “He has a varied coaching background and a track record of leading elite defenses at the highest level of football and winning organizations.” He will be a fantastic complement to our defensive line and the Nebraska football program.
The Bills have made the AFC playoffs the last five seasons because to the play of defensive backs for Butler in Buffalo. The team has also won the AFC East divisional title the last four years.
Butler remarked, “I am thrilled to be a part of Coach Rhule’s team, this staff, and the legendary Blackshirt Defense of Nebraska Football.” “I’m excited to work with our players to help them grow every day as athletes, learners, and young men!”
Butler was the defensive backs coach during Buffalo’s first four seasons (2018–21) before taking on the role of passing game coordinator for the last two. Safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Tre’Davious White were selected as All-Pros during his six seasons leading the Buffalo secondary, while nickel Taron Johnson and safety Micah Hyde were named to the second team.
Butler has been a member of the coaching staff in Buffalo, and the team boasts one of the best defenses in the league. The Bills defense led the NFL in overall yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per attempt, yards per completion, opponent passer rating, touchdown passes allowed, and passing first downs from 2018 until the end of the previous year. Buffalo has ranked second in the NFL in points allowed over the last six seasons because to their formidable pass defense, which has helped the Bills win at least 11 games four times.
Butler served as the Houston Texans’ backup coach under Bill O’Brien from 2014 until 2017 prior to moving to Buffalo. In the two AFC South titles that Houston won during his four seasons in charge of the Texans secondary, the defense gave up the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (238.1 ypg). Houston had the second-lowest passing yards allowed per game in 2016 while ranking #1 in total defense.
Prior to joining the National Football League, Butler coached at the collegiate level for 19 years. His most recent college job was working for O’Brien at Penn State in 2012 and 2013. Before taking over as the Nittany Lion defensive coordinator in 2013, Butler was the team’s secondary coach in 2012. The Nittany Lions placed second in the Big Ten and sixteenth nationally in scoring defense during his first season at Penn State.
In addition, Butler has 11 seasons of experience as a collegiate special teams coordinator. In 2011, he guided the South Carolina Gamecocks to a top-10 national ranking while serving as the head coach of the outside linebackers and special teams. At Minnesota, he oversaw the special teams and coached the linebackers for four seasons (2007–2010).
Butler made trips at Harvard (2003–06), Texas State (2001-02), and Midwestern State (1999–2000) prior to joining Minnesota. In 1997 and 1998, he worked as a graduate assistant at Texas for two seasons. Butler started his coaching career at his alma school, Catholic University (Pa.), in 1995 and 1996. Butler attended Catholic University and played basketball and football before graduating in 1995.
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