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Report: Nebraska to promote John Butler to defensive coordinator

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•12/10/24•

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Nebraska DBs coach John Butler. (Photo credit: Casey Fritton/HuskerOnline)

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Nebraska is set to promote John Butler to become the program’s next defensive coordinator. Head coach Matt Rhule is looking to replace Tony White after he left Lincoln for the same role with Florida State. Butler is getting called up after serving as the secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator this past season.

“Sources: Nebraska is set promote John Butler to be the school’s new defensive coordinator,” Thamel said via X. “He came to Nebraska this spring after a lengthy NFL career. He’s the former defensive coordinator at Penn State. His NFL expertise comes in the passing game.”

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Butler was last the Penn State defensive coordinator in 2013, working under Bill O’Brien. But when the Houston Texans decided to hire O’Brien, he decided to bring Butler along with him. This began an NFL stint that lasted nearly a decade, also working for the Buffalo Bills.

Nebraska offered him an opportunity to get back in the college game. As mentioned, Butler was the secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator. Rhule has to be hoping an internal promotion can keep the ball rolling into the right direction.

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Thamel later added another addition Nebraska will make to its staff. A long-time assistant of Rhule, Phil Snow, is being hired as the associate head coach. Snow and Rhule have a long history of working together and get back together with the Cornhuskers.

“Sources: Nebraska is hiring longtime Matt Rhule assistant coach Phil Snow as the associate head coach,” Thamel said. “He was Rhule’s DC at Temple, Baylor and the Carolina Panthers. Rhule worked as his graduate assistant UCLA.”

One game does remain on the schedule for Nebraska. For the first time in a long time, the program will be playing in a bowl game. Fenway Park will be the site for a matchup against Boston College. But as the offseason is already underway in college football, coaching moves had to be made.