Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio named Gregg Williams the team's defensive coordinator, assistant head coach/defense on Wednesday. Williams brings 18 years of NFL coaching experience including three as a head coach and eight as a defensive coordinator.
"Gregg Williams is an outstanding football coach, has a wealth of NFL coaching experience and is committed to helping us pursue a world championship," Del Rio said. "I am pleased to add another strong teacher to our coaching staff. We've established a high standard of defensive play over the past five years here and I expect that to continue under Gregg."
"I'm excited to be joining the Jaguars and Jack Del Rio's staff," Williams said, "and I'm looking forward to getting started in Jacksonville. I was there for the organization's first game in 1995 as well as a lot of other memorable moments, and have had great respect over the years for the ownership and the players and coaches and their success. This is a very, very good team and a tremendous opportunity."
Williams spent the past four seasons (2004-07) as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins. From 2004-07, the Redskins ranked sixth in the NFL in defense (306.6 yards allowed per game), which was second in the NFC, and seventh in the league in rushing defense (103.8). In five of the last eight years, Williams' defenses have ranked in the top 10 in the league, including three top three finishes in the past five years with three different teams.
"The last four years, being a part of the Redskins organization was a great experience," Williams added. "I appreciate the process that Mr. Snyder and Vinny Cerrato allowed me to participate in. It was the most thorough process I've been involved in in the NFL. I thank the Redskins fans and the organization for allowing me to be a part of their family. It was a dream come true to work for a Hall of Fame coach like Joe Gibbs. I will be able to utilize a lot of great learning experiences, and Joe Gibbs is not only a Hall of Fame coach but even a better person. I appreciate all the opportunities that Dan Snyder and the Redskins family allowed me to be a part of and I take with me many fond memories from my time in Washington."
Before joining the Redskins, Williams spent three seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2001-03. During his tenure in Buffalo, his defenses improved each of the three seasons. In 2003, the defense finished second in the NFL, improving from 15th in 2002 and 21st in 2001.
Williams spent 11 seasons with the Tennessee Titans organization (1990-2000), including four seasons as the defensive coordinator from 1997-2000. He was hired in 1990 as a defensive quality control coach and was promoted to special teams coach in 1993. Before taking over as defensive coordinator, Williams spent three seasons (1994-96) as linebackers coach.
In 2000, the Titans' defensive unit led the NFL in total defense for the first time since joining the NFL and the 191 points allowed were the third-fewest in the NFL since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978. The team also established the franchise's single-season records for sacks (55), fewest passing yards allowed (2,424) and fewest touchdowns allowed (17). The Titans ranked first in the NFL from 1999-2000 with 109 sacks.
