George Edwards (American football)
Encyclopedia
George Edwards is an American football
coach, the latest hiring by the Buffalo Bills, now serving as their defensive coordinator
. He has over 15 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience.
, Edwards was a two-year special teams captain and an honorable mention All-ACC
selection at linebacker in 1989.
, where he was an assistant in 1991. He also held assistant jobs at Appalachian State
(1992–1995), Duke
(1996) and Georgia
(1997).
At Georgia in 1997, Edwards tutored Richard Seymour
and Marcus Stroud
, who were both selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft
.
from 1998 to 2001. Linebacker Dexter Coakley
was selected to two Pro Bowl
s under Edwards tutelage and led the team in tackles all four seasons in that span.
under the title of Assistant Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach. That season linebacker LaVar Arrington
had his most productive career year, recording 107 tackles and 11 quarterback sack
s to earn a Pro Bowl
selection. Each of the team's three starting linebackers - Arrington, Jessie Armstead
and Jeremiah Trotter
- surpassed 100 tackles that season.
The following season, Edwards was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator. The team had two Pro Bowlers on defense that season - Arrington and cornerback Champ Bailey
.
for one season in 2004.
under first-year head coach Nick Saban
. He served in that capacity for five seasons and was one of only two members of the coaching staff retained after Cam Cameron
was fired after the 2007 season. Edwards left Miami to become the University of Florida defensive coordinator. 4 weeks later, he left Florida and accepted a job as the Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator.
' defensive coordinator, replacing Perry Fewell
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach, the latest hiring by the Buffalo Bills, now serving as their defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. He has over 15 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience.
Playing career
A four-year letterman at DukeDuke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
, Edwards was a two-year special teams captain and an honorable mention All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
selection at linebacker in 1989.
Collegiate coaching career
Edwards' first coaching job came at FloridaFlorida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
, where he was an assistant in 1991. He also held assistant jobs at Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
(1992–1995), Duke
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
(1996) and Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
(1997).
At Georgia in 1997, Edwards tutored Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour
Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American football defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots sixth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft...
and Marcus Stroud
Marcus Stroud
Marcus LaVar Stroud is an American Football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars 13th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
, who were both selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
.
Dallas Cowboys
Edwards held the position of linebackers coach for the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
from 1998 to 2001. Linebacker Dexter Coakley
Dexter Coakley
William Dexter Coakley is a former American football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was a third round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1997 NFL Draft, out of Division I-AA school Appalachian State...
was selected to two Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s under Edwards tutelage and led the team in tackles all four seasons in that span.
Washington Redskins
In 2002, Edwards moved on to the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
under the title of Assistant Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach. That season linebacker LaVar Arrington
LaVar Arrington
LaVar RaShad Arrington is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State for coach Joe Paterno.A two-time All-American at Penn State, Arrington played...
had his most productive career year, recording 107 tackles and 11 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s to earn a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection. Each of the team's three starting linebackers - Arrington, Jessie Armstead
Jessie Armstead
Jessie Willard Armstead is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for eleven seasons with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins between 1993 and 2003. He played college football at the University of Miami.-High school career:Armstead attended...
and Jeremiah Trotter
Jeremiah Trotter
Jeremiah Trotter is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stephen F...
- surpassed 100 tackles that season.
The following season, Edwards was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator. The team had two Pro Bowlers on defense that season - Arrington and cornerback Champ Bailey
Champ Bailey
Roland "Champ" Bailey is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Bailey was drafted in the 1st round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Georgia.Bailey is 8th among Broncos in all-time...
.
Cleveland Browns
Edwards served as linebackers coach for the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for one season in 2004.
Miami Dolphins
After his stint in Cleveland, Edwards became linebackers coach of the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
under first-year head coach Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
. He served in that capacity for five seasons and was one of only two members of the coaching staff retained after Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
was fired after the 2007 season. Edwards left Miami to become the University of Florida defensive coordinator. 4 weeks later, he left Florida and accepted a job as the Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator.
Buffalo Bills
On February 4, 2010, the Buffalo Bills confirmed that Edwards accepted the job as the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' defensive coordinator, replacing Perry Fewell
Perry Fewell
Perry Fewell is an American football coach who currently serves as the Defensive Coordinator of the New York Giants. Before that he served as the interim head coach and defensive coordinator of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills...
.