Well, that took no time at all. Just about 12 hours after the Nebraska football program announced defensive backs coach Evan Cooper was out, the Huskers reportedly have his replacement.
According to Pete Thamel, Matt Rhule has his sights set on John Butler, a seasoned NFL coach, as the new secondary coach. Butler's extensive Big Ten experience and his potential as a 'dream hire' are reasons for optimism.
Sources: Nebraska is expected to hire former Buffalo Bills assistant coach John Butler as the program’s new secondary coach. He’s a longtime NFL defensive backs coach with stints at the Texans (2014-17) and Bills (2018-23). pic.twitter.com/9XJtEum6Oe
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 6, 2024
Of course, in order for this to really be a dream hire, we’ll have to see how Butler can recruit. It’s also still an open question as to how Nebraska football will replace Cooper when it comes to talent evaluation. The former DB coach is also someone who is viewed as Rhule’s right hand man.
Nebraska football has already found its new secondary coach
There is a level of caution with this report as On3 reports the deal is not quite done yet. However, it appears both sides are working quickly to get it completed.
Butler’s NFL experience dates back to 2014 as the DBs coach for the Houston Texans. He was with that team until 2017, when he moved to the Buffalo Bills and served with the perennial AFC Championship contender until 2023.
One interesting wrinkle here is that Butler told members of the media that he left the Bills voluntarily and was not fired. He said he left because he wanted to be a defensive coordinator either in the NFL or college.
"I'm at my best when I'm in charge," Butler said. "I ran the secondary for six years, but there's a ceiling there.”
Butler was last a defensive coordinator with Bill O’Brien’s Penn State Nittany Lions for one season in 2013. Things are moving fast, but should John Butler be Evan Cooper's replacement, it might be worth keeping an eye on what Nebraska football does next.
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