John Butler

John Butler is in his second year at Nebraska in 2025 and his first full season as defensive coordinator. He served as the Huskers' secondary coach and pass game coordinator during the 2024 regular season before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the Pinstripe Bowl.

Butler is in his 31st season of coaching, and his experience includes 21 years in college football and 10 seasons in the National Football League. In his first season at Nebraska in 2024, Butler's secondary helped the Huskers rank in the top 20 nationally in total defense and scoring defense.

Butler's collegiate resume features four stops at power conference schools with experience in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. He has been the defensive coordinator at both Nebraska and Penn State.

In the NFL, Butler had a history of working with winning teams. In his 10 seasons in the National Football League, Butler's teams won six division titles and made seven playoff appearances.
He has also proven to be an outstanding secondary coach. In his six seasons coaching the Buffalo Bills' defensive backs from 2018 to 2023, the Bills had a top-five pass defense five times.

NEBRASKA (2024)
Nebraska held five opponents to fewer than 200 yards passing in 2024, as Butler's secondary helped complement a Husker rush defense that ranked eighth nationally. As a team, Nebraska ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense and 18th in total defense. In the Pinstripe Bowl victory over Boston College, Butler coordinated a defense that allowed only one scoring drive longer than two yards.

Nebraska had 11 interceptions in 2024, including three that were returned for touchdowns. The 11 interceptions tied for the most by a Husker squad in eight seasons, while Nebraska's three interception returns for touchdowns were the most for the program since the 2013 season. The Huskers ranked sixth nationally in interception returns for touchdowns. Individually, safety DeShon Singleton and cornerback/safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. both earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades.

BEFORE NEBRASKA
BUFFALO BILLS: Butler came to Nebraska after spending six seasons with the Buffalo Bills from 2018 to 2023. Butler coached the defensive backs in each of his six seasons with the Bills and added the role of passing game coordinator in his final two seasons.

The play of Butler’s defensive backs helped Buffalo reach the AFC playoffs in each of his final five seasons, and the Bills captured the AFC East divisional title in each of his last four years. During his six seasons at the helm of the Buffalo secondary, cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jordan Poyer were first-team All-Pro selections, while safety Micah Hyde and nickel Taron Johnson were second-team honorees.

Buffalo was among the top defenses in the league throughout Butler’s time on the coaching staff. From 2018 through 2023, the Bills’ defense ranked first in the NFL in total yards per game, passing yards allowed per game, passing yards allowed per completion, passing yards allowed per attempt, touchdown passes allowed, opponent passer rating and passing first downs allowed. The stifling pass defense propelled Buffalo to rank second in the NFL in points allowed over Butler's six seasons on staff, during which time the Bills won at least 11 games four times.

Butler helped the Bills boast a top-five pass defense in five of his six seasons in Buffalo. The Bills had the NFL's top pass defense rating in 2021 while ranking third in both 2018 and 2019, fourth in 2022 and fifth in 2020. During his six seasons, the Buffalo defense had nearly as many interceptions (99) as passing touchdowns allowed (111).

In 2023, the Bills were one of only six NFL teams to allow fewer than 200 passing yards per game, and Buffalo ranked second in the NFL in touchdown passes allowed and third in interceptions. The Bills ranked fourth in the league in interceptions in 2022 and third in 2021. Buffalo allowed the fewest completions in the league in 2021, the lowest completion percentage, the fewest passing yards per game and per attempt and the fewest touchdown passes.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Before his time in Buffalo, Butler was the secondary coach on Bill O’Brien’s Houston Texans staff from 2014 to 2017. During his four seasons leading the Texans secondary, Houston captured a pair of AFC South crowns, and the defense allowed the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (238.1 ypg) in that time frame.

In 2016, Houston ranked first in total defense and allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game and second-fewest completions. In 2015, the Texans ranked third in the league in passing yards allowed and fifth in opponent completion percentage. Houston was also third in the NFL in interceptions in 2015 and fourth in opponent completion percentage.

PENN STATE: Prior to Nebraska, Butler's most recent position in college football was on O’Brien’s staff at Penn State in 2012 and 2013. Butler served as the secondary coach in 2012, before taking over as the Nittany Lion defensive coordinator in 2013. 

With Butler leading the defense, Penn State ranked 19th nationally in first down defense in 2013. In his first year at Penn State, the Nittany Lions ranked second in the Big Ten and 16th nationally in scoring defense. Butler's secondary helped PSU rank 28th nationally in pass efficiency defense.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Butler spent the 2011 season as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at South Carolina under Steve Spurrier. In his lone season, Butler helped the Gamecocks to an 11-2 record, the first 11-win season in program history. South Carolina finished with a No. 9 ranking, the first top-10 final ranking in school history. South Carolina ranked second in the country in passing defense, third in total defense and 10th in scoring defense.

MINNESOTA: Butler's first experience in the Big Ten came as Minnesota's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for four seasons from 2007 to 2010. In 2009, the Gophers ranked sixth nationally in punt returns and ninth in net punting. Minnesota was 15th in kickoff returns in 2008 and 24th in 2007.

HARVARD: Butler was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Harvard for three seasons from 2003 to 2006. In 2004, he helped the Crimson win the Ivy League title with a 10-0 record.

TEXAS STATE: Butler spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach at Texas State. In 2001, the Bobcats' starting punter and place-kicker each earned all-conference honors.

MIDWESTERN STATE: Butler's first full-time position came as the defensive coordinator at Midwestern State in 1999 and 2000, where he also coached the linebackers and safeties.

TEXAS: Butler's first coaching job in the FBS ranks came as a graduate assistant at Texas in 1997 and 1998. In his final season, the Longhorns won the Cotton Bowl and finished with a No. 15 ranking.

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: Butler began his career at his alma mater, The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 1996 after coaching the secondary as a first-year coach in 1995.

PLAYING CAREER (CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY)
Butler was a two-sport standout for Division III Catholic University. He was a four-year letterman and three-year starter in football. Butler also lettered twice in basketball and was a member of the school's first NCAA Tournament team in 1993.

PERSONAL
Butler earned his degree from Catholic University of America in 1995. He has one son, Manny.

COACHING CAREER
2024 Pinstripe Bowl/2025: Nebraska (Defensive Coordinator)
2024: Nebraska (Secondary/Pass Game Coordinator)
2022-23: Buffalo Bills (Defensive Backs/Passing Game Coordinator)
2018-21: Buffalo Bills (Defensive Backs)
2014-17: Houston Texans (Secondary)
2013: Penn State (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks (2013)
2012: Penn State (Secondary (2012)
2011: South Carolina (Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Linebackers)
2007-10: Minnesota (Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers)
2003-06: Harvard (Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers)
2001-02: Texas State (Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties)
1999-2000: Midwestern State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker/Safeties)
1997-98: Texas (Graduate Assistant)
1996: Catholic (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1995: Catholic (Secondary)