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Ryan Nielsen

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Ryan Nielsen
refer to caption
Nielsen in 2023
Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1979-03-20) March 20, 1979 (age 45)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High school:Royal (Simi Valley, California)
College:USC (1997–2001)
Undrafted:2002
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • USC (2002)
    Volunteer assistant
  • Ole Miss (2005–2007)
    Defensive line coach
  • Central Connecticut State (2008–2009)
    Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach/linebackers coach
  • UT Martin (2010)
    Defensive line coach/special teams coach
  • Northern Illinois (2011)
    Defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator
  • Northern Illinois (2012)
    Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator
  • NC State (2013)
    Defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator
  • NC State (2014–2016)
    Defensive line coach/run game coordinator
  • New Orleans Saints (2017–2020)
    Defensive line coach
  • New Orleans Saints (2021)
    Assistant head coach/defensive line coach
  • New Orleans Saints (2022)
    Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach
  • Atlanta Falcons (2023)
    Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach
  • Jacksonville Jaguars (2024–present)
    Defensive coordinator
As an administrator:
  • Idaho (2004)
    Administrative assistant
Record at Pro Football Reference
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Ryan Nielsen (born March 20, 1979) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL).

Playing career

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Nielsen played defensive tackle at USC from 1997 to 2001, where he started 30 games and garnered an All-Pac 10 honorable mention in 1999.[1] Upon graduating from USC in 2002, he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002 but did not make it past training camp. He also spent time with the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League.[2]

Coaching career

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Nielsen began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater USC in 2002. He also spent time as an administrative assistant at Idaho under former USC assistant Nick Holt. He was hired away as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss under his position coach at USC, Ed Orgeron, and was promoted to defensive line coach before the season began.[3] He also had stints at Central Connecticut State and UT Martin before being hired at Northern Illinois in 2011 as a co-defensive coordinator.[4] He followed Huskies head coach Dave Doeren to NC State in 2013 to serve as his defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.[5] He added the title of run game coordinator in 2014.

New Orleans Saints

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Nielsen was hired as the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints on February 9, 2017.[6]

Nielsen was offered the defensive coordinator position at LSU in 2021, but elected to remain with the Saints where he was promoted with the added title of assistant head coach in 2021.[7][8]

Nielsen was promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2022.

Atlanta Falcons

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On January 27, 2023, Nielsen was hired as defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

In Nielsen’s first year with the Falcons, the overall defensive rankings improved from 23rd to 18th in points allowed per game and from 27th to 11th in yards allowed per game.[9] The Falcons also doubled their sack total (42) from the previous season (21).[10][11]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On January 22, 2024, Nielsen was hired as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "USC's Claridge, Gibson Make All-PAC-10 First-team". USC Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Get to know new Saints assistant Ryan Nielsen". New Orleans Saints. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Ryan Nielsen Promoted To Defensive Line Coach At Ole Miss". Ole Miss Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "NIU's Doeren continues to build defensive staff with Niemann, Nielsen". NIU Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ryan Nielsen hired as NC State assistant". Rivals. December 7, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ryan Nielsen fulfills dream to coach in NFL, brings passion to Saints defensive line". NOLA.com. May 17, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ryan Nielsen gets new title with New Orleans Saints, won't be LSU Tigers defensive coordinator, sources say". ESPN. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Saints promote Ryan Nielsen to Assistant Head Coach, per report". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "2023 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "2022 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "2023 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "Official: Ryan Nielsen Hired as Jaguars Defensive Coordinator". Jaguars.com. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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