Gill Byrd

Gill Arnette Byrd (born February 20, 1961) is an American former professional football cornerback who played for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a twice Pro Bowl selection in 1991 and 1992 for the Chargers after graduating from San Jose State University. Byrd was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1998.

Gill Byrd

Byrd c. 1987
No. 22
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1961-02-20) February 20, 1961 (age 63) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lowell (San Francisco, California)
College:	San Jose State
NFL draft:	1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22
Career history
As a player:
San Diego Chargers (1983–1992)
As a coach:
St. Louis Rams (2003–2004) Defensive assistant St. Louis Rams (2005) Assistant secondary coach Chicago Bears (2006) Defensive quality control coach Chicago Bears (2007–2012) Assistant defensive backs coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014–2015) Cornerbacks coach Buffalo Bills (2017) Defensive backs coach Illinois (2018–2019) Safeties coach^[1]
Career highlights and awards
As a player Second-team All-Pro (1992) 2× Pro Bowl (1991, 1992) Bart Starr Award (1993) Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team San Diego Chargers 40th Anniversary Team
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 42 Interception yards: 546 Fumble recoveries: 4 Defensive touchdowns: 2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

High school career

He was an All-City running back and defensive back at Lowell High School, helping to lead the Cardinals to the city championship in his senior season of 1978.

Coaching career

Byrd began his coaching career in 2003 as a volunteer with the St. Louis Rams. He was promoted to assistant secondary coach in 2005. On February 20, 2006, Byrd was hired by the Chicago Bears. In 2007, he served as the assistant defensive backs coach after holding the position of defensive quality control coach in his first year with the team. Byrd was promoted to assistant defensive backs/safeties coach on January 16, 2008. Byrd was fired on January 19, 2013.^[2] He became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerbacks coach in 2014. He was fired following the 2015 NFL season. On February 7, 2017, the Buffalo Bills hired Byrd to oversee the team's defensive backs.^[3] He left the job in January and he is coached the defensive backs at the University of Illinois.^[4]

Personal life

His sons, Gill Byrd, Jr. and Jairus Byrd, played college football at New Mexico State University and the University of Oregon, respectively. Jairus was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 42nd pick in the 2009 NFL Draft as a cornerback, but was moved to the free safety position, at which he made the Pro Bowl in 2009, 2012, and 2013. His nephew is Richard Rodgers II, a tight end for the Los Angeles Chargers.

References

1. "UPDATE: Illini officially add Gill Byrd as safeties coach".
2. "Hoke, Phair To Return To Bears Coaching Staff". WBBM-TV. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
3. . Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
4. "GILL BYRD JOINS LOVIE SMITH'S ILLINOIS STAFF". fightingillini.com. February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

External links