Team

4th Year in the NFL/4th with the Bills

COACHING EXPERIENCE: Cross enters his fourth season with the Bills in 2009 and will continue to work with the team’s linebackers and special teams units.  Defensively, Cross works with outside linebackers.  In 2008, OLB Kawika Mitchell tied for the team-lead with 4.0 sacks and two key interceptions to seal victories against San Diego and Denver.  Cross primarily works with gunners on the punt coverage unit and jammers on the punt return unit. Serving as an assistant to special teams coordinator Bobby April, the Bills special teams produced a standout season as the punt return unit led the NFL and the unit led the NFL in average drive start position.  The special teams unit also finished first in the Dallas Morning News comprehensive special teams rankings.  Primarily works with the team’s outside linebackers … Under Cross in 2007, SLB Angelo Crowell saw an increase in his production as he posted a career-high and team-leading 140 tackles and ranked fourth in the AFC in the category; posted most tackles for an OLB in the AFC; made a number of game-changing plays by recording a safety, sack, interception, forced fumble and a fumble recovery this season … Cross was promoted to assistant linebackers coach/special teams for the 2007 season. … Cross joined the Bills as a defensive/special teams assistant after spending 2001-05 as Iowa State’s outside linebackers/special teams coordinator…Cross’ unit made major contributions to the Cyclones’ record-setting defenses during his stint;  Cross developed Jeremy Loyd into an all-Big 12 performer who played for the St. Louis Rams;  Loyd was named Iowa State’s Defensive MVP in 2001 and 2002 …Cross spent the 2000 season coaching a defensive backfield at Sam Houston State that ranked second nationally (Division I-AA). Cross’ Sam Houston State pass defense, led by free safety Keith Davis who was the Southland Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and started the 2005 season for the Dallas Cowboys at safety. …Coached outside linebackers at the University of Missouri the previous two seasons (1998-99).

PERSONAL: A 1997 Missouri graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Cross made 415 career tackles at free safety for the Tigers from 1994-96…led Missouri in tackles as a junior and senior…received second-team all-conference honors from the Big Eight in 1995 and the Big 12 in 1996…Cross, who played prep football at Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Mo., received the Athletic Director’s Leadership Award in 1996…he has two daughters (Jadyn, Sheridan).