New York Giants: 10 Potential Defensive Coordinator Replacements For Perry Fewell
Nov 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets defensive line coach Karl Dunbar against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Current Position: Defensive Line Coach New York Jets
People may cringe at seeing a member of the Jets’ coaching staff on this list, but Dunbar should be given some consideration. He would fall in the same category as Pepper Johnson, as a player that fits the McAdoo mold from the offensive coordinator search from last season.
Dunbar has led some of the most impressive defensive lines in recent football, having success wherever he has been. Dunbar helped tutor Oklahoma State’s Kevin Williams during the 2002 season, helping him become the ninth overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings before going onto a an extremely productive career that is still being continued today.
In the NFL his success continued, as he coached the Chicago Bears defensive line in 2004, when they led the NFL in third down defense. He had a hand in helping Tommie Harris and Tank Johnson become two of the most dominant defensive lineman tandems in the NFL.
He had success when he returned back to his alma mater LSU under Les Miles as well, as his lineman paved the way for the 5th ranked total defense in the nation, ranking seventh in rushing yards allowed per game.
Success continued when he returned to the NFL, as he coached the ‘Williams Wall’ with the Minnesota Vikings. With the same Kevin Williams from Oklahoma State at defensive tackle and Pat Williams at nose tackle, the Vikings had the best run defense from 2006-2008 every season, giving up only 70.8 yards per game over that same time span.
Things have continued to be great for Dunbar, as the Jets defensive line is one of the most daunting in the NFL currently behind Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson. While Dunbar has obviously had talented players at his disposal, he has gotten the most out of them.
For a franchise that has leaned on the defensive line for success for so long, the Giants should consider hiring a guy that has a history of success with productive defensive lines become the leader of their defense.
Next: Former New York Giants Defensive Coordinator