Matt Edwards joins the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive line coach after spending the 2024 season as assistant defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills. Edwards brings seven years of NFL coaching experience along with 15 years of collegiate coaching experience.
In 2024, Edwards helped Buffalo's defensive unit post the third-highest takeaway total in the NFL (32) and their highest in a single season since 2009 (33). DT Ed Oliver and DE Greg Rousseau tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles each, both players setting career highs. Rousseau also set career highs in tackles (53), tackles for loss (16) and quarterback hits (24), and his team-leading 8.0 sacks tied his previous career best.
Their 223 quarterback pressures per Next Gen Stats tied for fourth-most in the AFC and tied for eighth-most in the NFL.
Prior to Buffalo, Edwards spent two seasons (2022-23) with Las Vegas as defensive assistant/pass rush specialist. In 2023, the Raiders defense recorded 46.0 total sacks, ranking 10th-most in a single season in franchise history since 1982. Under Edwards, DE Maxx Crosby posted a team-leading, career-high 14.5 sacks in 2023, as well as 88 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2022. During Edwards' stint in Las Vegas, Crosby earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2022 and 2023.
Edwards served as defensive assistant and special teams assistant for the Tennessee Titans between 2018-22. As special teams assistant, Edwards helped K Randy Bullock place ninth in franchise history in single-season points scored in 2021. During his first season as special teams assistant in 2018, he helped the Titans return unit post 32.0 yards per kickoff return, which led the league. As defensive assistant in 2020, Edwards served a defensive unit that ranked seventh in the NFL in takeaways (23).
Prior to coaching in the NFL, Edwards spent four seasons as defensive coordinator at Tiffin University (2014-17), leading the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in sacks and tackles for loss in his final season. Additionally, he helped the Dragons to back-to-back winning seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Edwards returned to his alma mater, Miami (OH), to serve as defensive ends coach in 2011. In 2012, he assumed the responsibility of special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. Edwards then spent the 2013 season as Florida Atlantic's special teams coordinator and defensive line coach, finishing 11th nationally in total defense.
After beginning his coaching career as a linebackers coach at The College of Wooster in 2003, Edwards spent seven seasons at Kent State as a graduate assistant (2004-05) and defensive line coach (2006-10).
Edwards played football collegiately at Miami (OH) as a linebacker and defensive end. He was named a team captain his senior season. The Cincinnati, Ohio native earned his bachelor's degree from Miami in sport organization in 2002, and his master's degree in sport and recreational management at Kent State. He and his wife, Mary, have four sons; Andrew, Luke, Nathan and William.
