The Buffalo Bills have announced that they have added Pepper Johnson as a defensive line coach and Fred Pagac as a linebacker coach.
A five-time Super Bowl champion, Johnson will enter his 15th year coaching in the NFL in 2014. Johnson has spent the past 14 seasons working for the New England Patriots, serving in a variety of roles including eight seasons (2004-11) as the team’s defensive line coach. During his 13-year playing career, Johnson was a part of two championship teams and has been a member of three championship teams since joining New England’s coaching staff in 2000.
During Johnson’s 14 seasons on the Patriots defensive coaching staff, New England finished in the top 10 in fewest points allowed per game 10 times.
As the Patriots’ defensive line coach, Johnson helped DT Vince Wilfork emerge as one of the premier defensive tackles in the NFL. Over the first 10 seasons of his career, Wilfork has been named to five Pro Bowls—four of which came directly under Johnson’s watch.
In addition to his successes coaching Wilfork, during Johnson’s stint as the Patriots’ defensive line coach he helped both DE Mark Anderson and DE Andre Carter enjoy double digit sack seasons in 2011.
In 2012, Johnson made the switch from coaching the Patriots’ defensive line to the team’s linebackers. Under his tutelage, LB Jerod Mayo and LB Brandon Spikes finished as the top two tacklers on the team.
Johnson originally entered the NFL in 2000 as defensive assistant, working primarily with the team’s linebackers. In 2001, Johnson was promoted to the team’s inside linebackers coach where he would help lead a unit that played an important role in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI championship.
A native of Detroit, MI, Johnson enjoyed an illustrious 13-year playing career after being drafted out of Ohio State by the New York Giants in the second round (51st overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft. In addition to Super Bowl championships in 1986 and 1990 with the New York Giants, Johnson earned Pro Bowl honors in 1990 and 1994.
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JOHNSON’S COACHING CAREER |
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NFL |
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Buffalo Bills New England Patriots New England Patriots New England Patriots New England Patriots
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2014 2012-13 2004-11 2001-03 2000
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Defensive Line Linebackers Defensive Line Inside Linebackers Assistant Linebackers
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Fred Pagac (pronounced PUG-itch) has more than a decade of experience on both the collegiate and professional coaching levels,Pagac comes to Buffalo after spending the past eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. During his time with the Vikings, Pagac helped lead the Vikings’ defense to four top 10 finishes in total defense including three straight top 10 finishes from 2008-10.
While with Minnesota, Pagac spent seven seasons as the team’s linebackers coach (2006-10, 2012-13) and one season as the team’s defensive coordinator (2011) mentoring Vikings defensive stalwarts including Chad Greenway, Jared Allen and E.J. Henderson. With Pagac overseeing the defense in 2011, Allen broke the Vikings single-season sack record with 22.0 sacks.
Pagac also continually boasted one of the top run stopping units in the league during his time with the Vikings, tallying five defenses that finished the season among the top 10 in the NFL in rushing defense including three consecutive finishes as the league’s top run defense from 2006-08.
Prior to joining the Vikings in 2006, Pagac coached linebackers for the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons (2004-05) and for the Oakland Raiders for three seasons (2001-03). During his stint with the Raiders, he helped the 2002 Oakland defense rank third in the NFL against the run as Oakland won the AFC and went on to face Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Before entering the NFL ranks, Pagac coached at his alma mater, Ohio State, from 1978-2000. While with the Buckeyes, Pagac worked with 10 Buckeyes defensive performers who earned All-America honors, including former Bills CB Antoine Winfield.
A native of Richeyville, PA, Pagac enjoyed a two-year NFL playing career as a tight end after entering the league as a rookie free agent with Chicago in 1974 and then playing for Tampa Bay in 1976.
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PAGAC’S COACHING CAREER |
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NFL |
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Buffalo Bills Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raiders |
2014 2012-13 2011 2006-10 2004-05 2001-03 |
Linebackers Linebackers Defensive Coordinator Linebackers Linebackers Linebackers |
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COLLEGE |
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Ohio State |
2000 |
Assistant Head Coach |
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Ohio State |
1996-99 |
Defensive Coordinator |
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Ohio State Ohio State |
1982-95 1978-81 |
Linebackers Graduate Assistant |
Filed under: Buffalo Bills
Tagged with: Buffalo Bills, Fred Pagac, Pepper Johnson
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