View source for Jerry Gray

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1962)}}
{{About|the football player|the arranger and composer|Jerry Gray (arranger)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name         = Jerry Gray
| image        = Jerry Gray.png
| caption      = Gray in 2023
| number       =
| position     = Assistant head coach/defense 
| career_position     =db
| career_number       =25, 21, 20
| current_team = Atlanta Falcons
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1962|12|16}}
| birth_place  = [[Lubbock, Texas]], U.S.
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 0
| weight_lb    = 183
| high_school  = [[Estacado High School|Estacado]] (Lubbock)
| college      = [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]]
| draftyear    = 1985
| draftround   = 1
| draftpick    = 21
| teams        =
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1985|1991}})
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1992}})
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|1993}})
| pastcoaching =
* [[SMU Mustangs football|SMU]] (1995–1996)<br />Defensive backs coach
* [[Tennessee Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1997}}–{{NFL Year|1998}})<br /> Defensive quality control coach
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2000}})<br /> Defensive backs coach
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})<br /> Defensive coordinator 
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})<br /> Defensive backs coach
* [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL Year|2010}})<br /> Defensive backs coach
* Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})<br /> Defensive coordinator 
* [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})<br /> Defensive backs coach
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|2020}})<br />Defensive backs coach
* Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})<br />Defensive backs/passing game coordinator
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)<br/>Assistant head coach/defense
| highlights   =
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]], [[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* 4× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1987 Pro Bowl|1986]]–[[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]])
* 1990 Pro Bowl MVP
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1984 College Football All-America Team|1984]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1983 College Football All-America Team|1983]])
* [[Southwest Conference|SWC]] Defensive Player of the Year (1983)
* 2× First-team All-[[Southwest Conference|SWC]] ([[1983 All-Southwest Conference football team|1983]], [[1984 All-Southwest Conference football team|1984]])
| statlabel1   = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue1   = 28
| statlabel2   = Interception yards
| statvalue2   = 374
| statlabel3   = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3   = 3
| pfr          = GrayJe00
| pfrcoach     = GrayJe0
| CollegeHOF   = 2344 
}}

'''Jerry Don Gray''' (born December 16, 1962) is an American [[American football|football]] coach and former player who is the assistant head coach/defense for the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Gray played [[college football]] for the [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas Longhorns]], twice garnering consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors.  Thereafter, he played professionally for the [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Houston Oilers]], and [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] of the NFL.

==Early life==

Gray was born in [[Lubbock, Texas]].  He attended [[Estacado High School (Lubbock, Texas)|Lubbock Estacado High School]]. He was inducted into the Lubbock ISD Hall of Honor in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerry Gray Class of 2011 |url=https://lisdhallofhonor.com/inductee/jerry-gray/ |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref>

==College career==

Gray was a two-time consensus first-team All-American at the [[University of Texas]]. During his career, he was known for being an especially hard hitter.  He had 297 career tackles, 16 interceptions and 20 passes broken up and played on four bowl teams at Texas coached by [[Fred Akers]]. In 1996 he was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerry Gray Hall of Honor |url=https://texassports.com/honors/hall-of-honor/jerry-gray/630 |access-date=13 October 2023}}</ref> In 2013, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name="HOF">{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=David |date=May 7, 2013 |title=Don Trull, Jerry Gray selected to College Football Hall of Fame |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/college/article/Don-Trull-Jerry-Gray-selected-to-College-4496099.php |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Chron.com}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Gray was the Rams' first-round choice in the 1985 NFL Draft and played seven years in Los Angeles before finishing his career with the Oilers in 1992 and the Buccaneers in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He had 28 career interceptions, including six for the Oilers in 1992.<ref name="HOF" />

Gray was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] four times attending the game from 1986 through 1989. In his final appearance he earned [[Pro Bowl MVP]] honors after recording 7 tackles and a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/The_1990_Pro_Bowl.htm |title=The 1990 Pro Bowl |access-date=May 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928122000/http://www.mmbolding.com/BSR/The_1990_Pro_Bowl.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2001, Gray was nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but was not chosen as a semi-finalist.<ref>{{cite web |title=2001 NOMINEES FOR HALL OF FAME |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2001-nominees-for-hall-of-fame1/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730154648/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2001-nominees-for-hall-of-fame1/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===SMU===
After retiring as a player, Gray turned to coaching. His coaching career began in 1995 as a defensive backs coach for the [[SMU Mustangs football]] team.

===Tennessee Oilers/Titans===
He then worked for the [[Tennessee Oilers]] as a Defensive Quality Control coach from 1997 to 1998 before being promoted to [[defensive back]]s coach in 1999 when the team name was changed from "Oilers" to "Titans".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/1/3/2679533/jerry-gray-buccaneers-head-coach-rooney-rule-tampa-bay|title = Titans DC Jerry Gray to interview for Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Head Coaching Job per Rick Stroud|date = January 3, 2012}}</ref> He was with the team when they won the AFC Championship and went to [[Super Bowl XXXIV]].

===Buffalo Bills===
In 2001, he was hired by former Titans [[defensive coordinator]] [[Gregg Williams]] to run the [[Buffalo Bills]] defense the same year Williams left Tennessee to become the Buffalo [[Head Coach]]. He served as the [[defensive coordinator]] for the [[Buffalo Bills]] from 2001 to 2005, where he oversaw one of the top defenses in the NFL until his final season. The Bills ranked 2nd in total defense in both 2003 and 2004.

===Washington Redskins===
After the 2005 season he was hired by the [[Washington Redskins]] to serve as their defensive backs coach <ref>{{cite web | first=Gregg | last=Doyel | title=Why bother with Rooney Rule if this is how it works? | date=January 10, 2010 | publisher=CBS Interactive| url=http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12767402/why-bother-with-rooney-rule-if-this-is-how-it-works|access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Glenn | last=Davis | title=Seahawks, Redskins Called Out On "Making Mockery" Of Rooney Rule | date=January 12, 2010 | publisher=Mediaite, LLC| url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/seahawks-redskins-called-out-on-making-mockery-of-rooney-rule/|access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=John | last=Feinstein | title=Redskins make a mockery of Rooney Rule | date=December 31, 2009 | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/30/AR2009123001213.html|access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref>

===Seattle Seahawks===
On January 18, 2010, Gray was hired as the new defensive backs coach for the [[Seattle Seahawks]] where he coached the rookie safety tandem of [[Earl Thomas]] and [[Kam Chancellor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4836449|title=Sources: Gray to coach Seahawks' secondary|date=January 18, 2010}}</ref> The Seahawks won the NFC West and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in the Wild Card round. They ultimately lost to Bears in the Divisional playoffs.

===Texas Longhorns===
On January 17, 2011, Gray agreed to return to his alma mater Texas as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.texassports.com/news/2011/1/17/011711aab_995.aspx|title=Jerry Gray named Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach at Texas|date=January 17, 2011 }}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans (second stint)===
On February 12, 2011, however, Gray rejoined the Titans as their defensive coordinator.

===Minnesota Vikings===
On January 22, 2014, Gray was hired as the new defensive backs coach for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. In his 6 seasons with the team, the Vikings went to the playoffs three times, won the NFC North twice and went to the 2019 NFC Championship game.

===Green Bay Packers===
On January 29, 2020, Gray was hired as defensive backs coach for the [[Green Bay Packers]]. On March 1, 2021, Gray was promoted to defensive backs/passing game coordinator. In his three seasons with Green Bay, they won the NFC North twice and went to the 2020 NFC Championship game.

===Atlanta Falcons===
On January 31, 2023, Gray was hired as assistant head coach/defense for the [[Atlanta Falcons]].

==Personal life==
Gray and his wife Sherry, also from Lubbock, have two sons together. The eldest was a defensive back for the [[SMU Mustangs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jeremy_gray_463033.html |title=Jeremy Gray Bio - SMUMUSTANGS.COM - The Official Athletic Site of SMU Mustangs |website=www.smumustangs.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215153827/http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jeremy_gray_463033.html |archive-date=2013-12-15}}</ref>

Gray started the [[Jerry Gray Foundation]] in 2002 and it continues to actively supports youth in Lubbock, providing scholarships in partnership with Texas Tech.<ref>{{cite web | last=Musico | first=Josie | title=Jerry Gray Foundation beneficiary still successful years later | website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | date=2013-12-06 | url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2013/12/06/jerry-gray-foundation-beneficiary-still-successful-years-later/15063801007/#.UqT4lvRDuCk | access-date=2025-09-01}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans]]
*[[List of Los Angeles Rams first-round draft picks]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200803154645/https://www.packers.com/team/coaches-roster/jerry-gray Green Bay Packers bio]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101230094820/http://www.seahawks.com/team/coaches/jerry-gray/de810d18-f627-49e2-8ce0-5225726aea47 Official Seahawks website biography of Coach Gray]

{{1983 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1984 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1985 NFL Draft}}
{{RamsFirstPick}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1985 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Jerry}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills coaches]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers coaches]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:NFL defensive coordinators]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks coaches]]
[[Category:SMU Mustangs football coaches]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Oilers coaches]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans coaches]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns football players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins coaches]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Texas]]