Karl Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Karl Dunbar is a former American football
defensive lineman and current coach. He is currently serving as defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings
since 2006. The so-called “Williams Wall”, consisting of defensive tackle Kevin Williams and nose tackle Pat Williams, led the NFL in defense against the run each of the past three seasons.
Dunbar played three seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints
and Arizona Cardinals
. A 2nd-Team All-SEC defensive tackle as a senior at Louisiana State, Dunbar was picked in the 8th round, 209th overall, of the 1990 NFL Draft
. Shortly after his playing career ended, Dunbar started coaching at the high school level
, first at Opelousas (LA ) High, in 1996, before moving to Beau Chene (LA) High in 1997. His return to college football came in 1998-99 at Division I-AA Nicholls State
as the defensive line coach.
In 2000, he started working with the Tigers’ strength and conditioning program, before being hired as defensive line coach by Oklahoma State's Les Miles
. At OSU, Dunbar tutored Kevin Williams during his breakout senior season and helped him become the first Cowboys defensive lineman to be a 1st-round draft pick since Leslie O'Neal
17 years earlier.
Moving on to the NFL, Dunbar was hired by Lovie Smith
to guide to Chicago Bears
defensive line. He helped tutor a young and talented line that included rookie 1st-round pick Tommie Harris
and 2nd-rounder Tank Johnson
. The Bears led the NFL in 3rd-down defense, allowing opponents to convert at a 30.5% rate while ranking 15th in the NFL in pass defense. After the 2004 season, Dunbar returned to his alma mater, which had just hired Les Miles as new head coach. In 2005, Dunbar’s linemen paved the way for the Tigers defense to rank #5 in the nation in total defense at 276.8 yards per game and 7th in the country in rushing defense at 94.8 yards per game. The defense also allowed only 15.2 points per game, which ranked 8th in the nation, and led the SEC with 39 team sacks.
In 2006, Dunbar returned to the NFL, as he was hired by the Vikings' new head coach, Brad Childress
. Over the past three years, the Vikings only allowed an average of 68.5 rushing yards per game.
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...
defensive lineman and current coach. He is currently serving as defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
since 2006. The so-called “Williams Wall”, consisting of defensive tackle Kevin Williams and nose tackle Pat Williams, led the NFL in defense against the run each of the past three seasons.
Dunbar played three seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. A 2nd-Team All-SEC defensive tackle as a senior at Louisiana State, Dunbar was picked in the 8th round, 209th overall, of the 1990 NFL Draft
1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
. Shortly after his playing career ended, Dunbar started coaching at the high school level
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, first at Opelousas (LA ) High, in 1996, before moving to Beau Chene (LA) High in 1997. His return to college football came in 1998-99 at Division I-AA Nicholls State
Nicholls State University
Nicholls State University, founded in 1948, is a public university located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, USA. Nicholls is part of the University of Louisiana System of universities. Originally called Francis T. Nicholls Junior College, the institution split from the Louisiana State University System in...
as the defensive line coach.
In 2000, he started working with the Tigers’ strength and conditioning program, before being hired as defensive line coach by Oklahoma State's Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
. At OSU, Dunbar tutored Kevin Williams during his breakout senior season and helped him become the first Cowboys defensive lineman to be a 1st-round draft pick since Leslie O'Neal
Leslie O'Neal
Leslie O'Neal is a former football defensive end who played 13 years in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1986 to 1999....
17 years earlier.
Moving on to the NFL, Dunbar was hired by Lovie Smith
Lovie Smith
Lovie Lee Smith is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 Saint Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006....
to guide to Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive line. He helped tutor a young and talented line that included rookie 1st-round pick Tommie Harris
Tommie Harris
Tommie Harris, Jr. is an American football defensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma.Harris has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts...
and 2nd-rounder Tank Johnson
Tank Johnson
Terry "Tank" Johnson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
. The Bears led the NFL in 3rd-down defense, allowing opponents to convert at a 30.5% rate while ranking 15th in the NFL in pass defense. After the 2004 season, Dunbar returned to his alma mater, which had just hired Les Miles as new head coach. In 2005, Dunbar’s linemen paved the way for the Tigers defense to rank #5 in the nation in total defense at 276.8 yards per game and 7th in the country in rushing defense at 94.8 yards per game. The defense also allowed only 15.2 points per game, which ranked 8th in the nation, and led the SEC with 39 team sacks.
In 2006, Dunbar returned to the NFL, as he was hired by the Vikings' new head coach, Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
. Over the past three years, the Vikings only allowed an average of 68.5 rushing yards per game.