The Buffalo Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with John Blake to coach the defensive line.
Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan said, "We have agreed to terms with John Blake to become our new Defensive Line coach and I believe he will do an excellent job in working with the talented players we have at that position. John is a heck of a coach who has worked with many outstanding players and made them better. He endured a difficult time in his coaching career a few years back, but has moved forward with his life and put that behind him. Since that time he has worked with a number of NFL players and earned their respect with his ability to hone their skills and techniques. I don't think you will find better examples of his teaching abilities than the work he has done recently with Jason Pierre-Paul and Jerry Hughes."
A two-time Super Bowl champion (XXVII & XXIX), Blake will be beginning his second NFL stint. During Blake's first NFL coaching stint, he served as the Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach from 1993 to 1995. Under Blake's guidance, Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett, Charles Haley and Russell Maryland all earned Pro Bowl honors.
Following his time with the Cowboys, Blake moved on to become the Oklahoma Sooners head coach from 1996 to 1998.
Ryan will be reuniting with Blake after serving as Blake's defensive coordinator for the Sooners in 1998.
Blake, who brings 20-plus years of coaching experience with him to Buffalo, began his coaching career in 1985 as a student assistant with Oklahoma before earning his first full-time opportunity in 1987 with Tulsa. He joins the Bills after most recently serving as the University of North Carolina defensive line coach from 2007 to 2010.
A native of Rockford, Illinois, Blake earned his bachelor degree from the University of Oklahoma while playing nose guard for the Sooners from 1979 to 1982.
Additionally, the Bills announced that Jason Rebrovich will also coach the defensive line and Jeff Weeks will coach the outside linebackers.
