Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule introduced at the moment that John Butler has been named because the Huskers’ defensive coordinator. Butler joined the Nebraska employees in July as secondary coach and has 30 years of teaching expertise, together with 20 in faculty soccer.
This season, Butler was a part of a Nebraska protection that ranked within the prime 20 nationally in speeding protection, complete protection and scoring protection. Included on Butler’s spectacular resume are two seasons on the Penn State employees beneath Bill O’Brien, together with the 2013 season as defensive coordinator.
“John Butler has been an important addition to our employees this season and has confirmed he’s the appropriate coach to steer our protection,” Rhule mentioned. “John has earlier success as a defensive coordinator within the Big Ten Conference and has a historical past of teaching elite defenses all through his profession.”
With Butler main the secondary in 2024, the Huskers returned three interceptions for touchdowns, essentially the most by Nebraska since 2013. The Huskers additionally restricted six opponents to 13 factors or fewer.
“I admire the arrogance Coach Rhule has proven in me to steer the Blackshirts!,” Butler mentioned. “I knew Nebraska was a particular place earlier than I acquired right here, however it’s higher than I imagined. I stay up for our continued work with our gamers to develop them on and off the sphere. The Blackshirt custom is among the finest in faculty soccer, and we’re dedicated to taking part in nice protection at Nebraska.”
Butler got here to Nebraska after spending the earlier 10 years within the National Football League, together with six seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
The play of Butler’s defensive backs in Buffalo helped the Bills attain the AFC playoffs for 5 straight seasons, and the Bills captured the AFC East divisional title in every of his last 4 years.
Butler spent his first 4 seasons in Buffalo (2018-21) because the defensive backs coach, earlier than including the passing recreation coordinator title in 2022 and 2023. During his six seasons on the helm of the Buffalo secondary, cornerback Tre’Davious White and security Jordan Poyer have been All-Pro choices, whereas security Micah Hyde and nickel Taron Johnson have been second-team honorees.
Buffalo was among the many prime defenses within the league all through Butler’s time on the teaching employees. From 2018 by 2023, the Bills’ protection ranked first within the NFL in complete yards per recreation, passing yards per recreation, yards per completion, yards per try, TD passes allowed, opponent passer score and passing first downs. The stifling cross protection allowed Buffalo to rank second within the NFL in factors allowed over Butler’s six seasons because the Bills received at the least 11 video games 4 instances.
Before his time in Buffalo, Butler was the secondary coach on O’Brien’s Houston Texans employees from 2014 to 2017. During his 4 seasons main the Texans secondary, Houston captured a pair of AFC South crowns, and the protection allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per recreation (238.1 ypg) in that timeframe. In 2016, Houston ranked first in complete protection and allowed the second-fewest passing yards per recreation.
Butler spent 19 years in faculty teaching earlier than shifting to the National Football League. Butler served because the secondary coach at Penn State in 2012, earlier than taking up because the Nittany Lion defensive coordinator in 2013. In his first yr at Penn State, the Nittany Lions ranked second within the Big Ten and sixteenth nationally in scoring protection.
Butler’s numerous resume additionally contains 11 seasons as a collegiate particular groups coordinator. He led the particular groups and coached the skin linebackers at South Carolina in 2011, serving to the Gamecocks to a top-10 nationwide end. He spent 4 seasons (2007-10) teaching the linebackers and coordinating the particular groups at Minnesota.
Before his time at Minnesota, Butler had stops at Harvard (2003-06), Texas State (2001-02) and Midwestern State (1999-2000). He spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Texas in 1997 and 1998. Butler started his teaching profession in 1995 and 1996 at his alma mater, Catholic University (Pa.). Butler graduated from Catholic U. in 1995 and performed each soccer and basketball on the college.
Butler’s Coaching History
COLLEGE
Nebraska: Secondary (2024), Defensive Coordinator (Bowl Game/2025)
Penn State: Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks (2013)
Penn State: Secondary (2012)
South Carolina: Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers (2011)
Minnesota: Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers (2007-10)
Harvard: Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers (2003-06)
Texas State: Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties (2001-02)
Midwestern State: Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker/Safeties (1999-2000)
Texas: Graduate Assistant (1997-98)
Catholic: Defensive Coordinator/Secondary (1996)
Catholic: Secondary (1995)
NFL
Buffalo Bills: Defensive Backs/Passing Game Coordinator (2022-23)
Buffalo Bills: Defensive Backs (2018-21)
Houston Texans: Secondary (2014-17)
