Rhule and New Nebraska DC Butler Meet the Media

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and his new defensive coordinator John Butler both spoke to the media Thursday as the Huskers prepare to play Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. 

Rhule said he promoted Butler from secondary coach to defensive coordinator after interviewing five or six people.  He said that when Butler coached the Buffalo Bills’ secondary, it was a top unit for five years.  

‘There was a lot of outpouring from our current players, guys I really respect,” Rhule added.  “I’m not going to make that decision because of that.  But…some current guys in the secondary felt like after three or four years in college, John had brought a professionalism and a next-level mentality to them that they thought was going to prepare them for the next level.”

As for Butler, he said Nebraska’s defense gave up more explosive plays in the second half of the season than he would’ve liked.  He said for the six years he was in Buffalo, the Bills were in the top three every year in not allowing those. 

Also yesterday, Rhule announced the hiring of Phil Simpson as outside linebackers coach.  He was at NU as a quality control coach in 2023 and returns to Lincoln after spending last season as a senior defensive analyst at Florida State.