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Al Holcomb

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Al Holcomb
refer to caption
Holcomb with the Panthers in 2015
Buffalo Bills
Position:Linebackers coach
Personal information
Born: (1970-10-22) October 22, 1970 (age 54)
New York, New York, U.S.
Career information
College:West Virginia
Career history
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Record at Pro Football Reference

Al Holcomb (born October 22, 1970) is an American football coach who is the linebackers coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the interim defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers and as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants.

Early career

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Holcomb started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Temple from 1995–96, helping with linebackers.[1] He worked as linebackers coach, assistant track coach and physical education instructor at Colby College in 1997.

He spent six years from 1998-2003 at Bloomsburg University as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. From 2004–05, Holcomb coached at Kutztown University, where he was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in addition to being the interim head coach in the winter of 2005.[2]

He oversaw the defensive line at Lafayette from 2006-08.[3] Under Holcomb's tutelage, five different defensive linemen claimed All-Patriot League honors. During his final season in 2008, the Leopards led the conference in several defensive categories, including total defense and scoring defense. In his first season in 2006, Holcomb contributed to a unit that finished first in the Football Championship Subdivision in total defense, fourth in rushing defense and eighth in scoring defense. [4]

Professional coaching career

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New York Giants

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In 2009, Holcomb joined the New York Giants as the defensive quality control coach.[5] In 2011, he was promoted to defensive assistant to Perry Fewell. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.[6]

Carolina Panthers

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On January 26, 2013, Holcomb was hired as the linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers.[7] He was Pro Football Focus's first runner-up to their Linebackers Coach of the Year award.[8]

In the 2015 season, Holcomb and the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. The Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos by a score of 24–10.[9]

Arizona Cardinals

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On January 26, 2018, Holcomb was hired as defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.[10] He was fired on December 31, 2018, along with head coach Steve Wilks.[11]

Cleveland Browns

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On January 16, 2019, Holcomb was hired as linebackers coach and run game coordinator by the Cleveland Browns.[12]

Carolina Panthers (second stint)

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On January 19, 2020, Holcomb returned to the Carolina Panthers and was hired as their defensive run game coordinator.[13]

The Panthers were selected to coach in the 2021 Senior Bowl, but linebackers coach Mike Siravo missed the game due to COVID-19 protocols, so Holcomb took over his duties in the game.[14]

Buffalo Bills

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On February 8, 2023, the Buffalo Bills hired Holcomb as a senior defensive assistant.[15] On February 2, 2024, he was appointed as linebackers coach.[16]

References

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  1. ^ Somers, Kent (July 31, 2018). "Cardinals defensive coordinator Al Holcomb is anonymous, for now". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "An even higher education ** Lafayette assistant football coach Al Holcomb spends four days in NY Jets camp". The Morning Call. August 21, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Heffner Moves On to Big Ten at Northwestern University; Holcomb Accepts Job With N.Y. Giants". Lafayette College Athletics. February 9, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Al Holcomb". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Garafolo, Mike (February 9, 2009). "New York Giants fill out coaching staff with new defensive assistant". NJ.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Garafolo, Mike (February 4, 2012). "Super Bowl: Giants assistant Al Holcomb and his family have sacrificed to chase a dream". NJ.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Vrentas, Jenny (January 26, 2013). "Panthers hire Giants assistant Al Holcomb as linebackers coach". NJ.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  8. ^ Hornsby, Neil (January 20, 2016). "Pro Football Focus' 2015 NFL Positional Coaches of the Year". PFF. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016.
  9. ^ "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  10. ^ "Cardinals hire McCoy as offensive coordinator, Holcomb as DC". USA TODAY. January 26, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Dajani, Jordan (December 31, 2018). "Cardinals fire offensive and defensive coordinators". 247Sports. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (January 16, 2019). "Browns hire Al Holcomb as LB coach/defensive run game coordinator". Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "Panthers announce 2020 coaching hires". Panthers.com. January 31, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Panthers add two to coaching staff, part ways with D-Line coach". Panthers.com. January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Marrero, Nathaniel (February 9, 2023). "Bills Hire Coach Al Holcomb as Senior Defensive Assistant". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  16. ^ White, Alec (February 2, 2024). "Bills name Al Holcomb as linebackers coach, Marcus West as defensive line coach". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
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