Experienced and coveted defensive coordinator is joining Buffalo Bills coaching staff

Buffalo HC Sean McDermott makes moves to upgrade the Bills 2025 defensive unit

Chris Pirrone | Feb 6, 2025

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Former New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen is joining the Buffalo Bills coaching staff as a senior defensive assistant.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reported that "Former Jaguars and Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is expected to join the Bills staff as a senior defensive assistant. Nielsen also spent six seasons with the Saints as D-line coach and co-DC."

Neilsen "drew high interest from multiple teams in this cycle."

This is a strong hire by the Buffalo Bills who gain a highly respected and experienced defensive mind who has been a defensive coordinator and lead signal caller in the NFL for the last three years, and served as assistant head coach for the Saints in 2021. Neilsen also coached college defenses for 14 years and in 2015 was a Broyles Award candidate, given annually to college football's top assistant coach.

Oct 22, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen reacts with safety Richie Grant (27) / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Neilsen has notable experience in designing and operating a man coverage scheme. During the 2024 regular season the Bills defensive played a heavy amount of zone coverage (71.3 percent) and only blitzed 12.8 % of the time, one of the lowest rates in the NFL. In the playoffs the Bills reduced their zone coverage to less than 60% of plays and ran more man-to-man coverage with occasional blitzes to pressure opposing QBs.

Nielsen has been a DC in each of the last 3 seasons.

Jags in 2024 were 2nd in man coverage rate. Falcons in 2023 were 11th, & the Saints in 2022 were 8th.

Bills had a notable uptick in man coverage in the playoffs. 41.5% vs Baltimore & KC. Incoming shift in Buffalo's defense? https://t.co/IwoXbnve6x
— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) February 6, 2025

Nielsen has been a defensive coordinator for the past three years:

2024: Jacksonville defensive coordinator
2023: Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator
2022: New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator
2017-2021: New Orleans Saints defensive line coach

It was a rough year overall in Jacksonville. The Jaguars defense did not perform well under Nielsen, ranking last in the NFL in passing yards allowed, last in takeaways, and 31st in total defense.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

In Nielsen’s 2023 stint with the Falcons, their overall defensive was solid, improving from 23rd to 18th in points allowed per game, from 27th to 11th in yards allowed per game, and 8th in pass defense. The Falcons also doubled their sack total from the previous season.

Prior to his NFL career, Neilsen spent 14 years coaching college defenses:

USC (2002) Volunteer assistant
Ole Miss (2005–2007) Defensive line coach
Central Connecticut State (2008–2009) Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach/linebackers coach
University of Tennessee at 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. Neilsen was a Broyles Award candidate in 2015 (college football's top assistant coach).

A Simi, California native who played defensive tackle at USC from 1997 to 2001. Neilsen started 30 games for the Trojans, and in 1999 earned an All-Pac 10 honorable mention and was voted the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year.

After USC, he signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002, but did not make the team. He also played for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League.

Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen gives instructions to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris (95) and defensive end Tyler Lacy (93) / Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

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