
Derrick Ansley
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs
College: Troy
Hometown: Tallassee, AL
Experience: 21 years
Biography
Derrick Ansley joined the ÃÛÌÒTV in 2026 as the defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. With 21 years of collegiate and NFL coaching experience, he will be a key addition to Christian Parker's inaugural defensive staff.
Derrick Ansley joined the ÃÛÌÒTV in 2026 as the defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach. With 21 years of collegiate and NFL coaching experience, he will be a key addition to Christian Parker's inaugural defensive staff.
Ansley spent the previous two seasons (2024-25) with the Green Bay Packers in a similar role. In 2025 he helped guide a secondary highlighted by Pro Bowler Keisean Nixon, whose 17 pass breakups tied for sixth in the NFL and were the most by a Packer since 2019. Safety Xavier McKinney earned second-team All-Pro honors after recording 102 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, sixth among NFL safeties.
During Ansley's first year in Green Bay, the Packers fielded one of the NFL's top defenses, finishing fifth in total defense (314.5 ypg), sixth in scoring defense (19.9 ppg) and fifth in yards allowed-per-play (5.16). McKinney ranked second in the NFL in 2024 with a career-high eight interceptions, the most by a Packer in a season since Charles Woodson in 2009. Under Ansley, McKinney earned first-team All-Pro recognition.
Prior to his time in Green Bay, Ansley spent three seasons (2021-23) with the Los Angeles Chargers, first as secondary coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2023.
As the defensive coordinator in 2023, Ansley helped the Chargers finish tied for seventh in the NFL with 48 sacks, the most by the team since 2006. Khalil Mack ranked fourth in the league with a career-high 17.0 sacks, which tied the single-season team record and earned him a Pro Bowl berth. Under Ansley's direction, the Chargers tied for fifth in defensive fumbles recovered (12), the most by the Chargers in a season since 2012.
As the Chargers secondary coach in 2022, Ansley helped safety Derwin James Jr. earn AP second-team All-Pro honors along with a Pro Bowl selection after he was the only defensive back in the NFL to post at least 110 tackles, 4.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. In addition to James, Ansley coached cornerbacks Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr., with Davis leading the team with a career-high 15 pass breakups and Samuel adding a pair of interceptions.
In his first season leading the secondary, James was the only defensive back in the NFL to record at least 100 tackles, three forced fumbles, multiple sacks and multiple interceptions and as he earned Pro Bowl honors. Under Ansley,
Samuel was named NFL Rookie of the Month for September 2021 after recording two interceptions in his first the NFL games. As a unit, the LA defense finished third in the league with an AFC-best 19 forced fumbles.
Before joining the Chargers, Ansley served as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at the University of Tennessee (2019-20). The Volunteers improved from 49th in total defense (377.4 ypg) in 2018 to 23rd (334.5 ypg) in 2019. Ansley's defense featured 11 first-time starters, including first-team All-SEC defensive back Nigel Warrior and freshman All-American linebacker Henry To'o To'o. Additionally, linebacker Darrell Taylor finished second in the SEC with 8.5 sacks in 2019 and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round (48th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Ansley also coached current Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Ansley made his NFL coaching debut in 2018 as defensive backs coach for the Oakland Raiders. He helped Oakland rank 14th in the league with 14 interceptions after the team finished last in the NFL in interceptions in 2017 (five). Under his guidance, cornerback Gareon Conley notched a career-high 15 passes defensed, tied for fifth in the NFL that season.
Ansley, who was a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2011, returned to the Crimson Tide for a two-year stint (2016-17) as defensive backs coach while working under Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide led all of college football in total defense and scoring defense in both seasons. Ansley coached Minkah Fitzpatrick to consecutive All-America selections as well as the Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik Awards. Ansley was part of a staff that guided Alabama to a national title in 2017 and saw six members of the Crimson Tide's secondary become eventual NFL Draft selections. Other notable players that Ansley coached while with the Crimson Tide included future Pro Bowlers in Trevon Diggs, Eddie Jackson, Xavier McKinney and Marlon Humphrey, who was named first-team All-American in 2016.
Ansley spent the previous three seasons at Kentucky (2013-15), where he coached the defensive backs for the first two seasons before serving as co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach in 2015. The 2014 campaign saw the Wildcats record a school-record six defensive touchdowns and 23 total takeaways.
Ansley's first opportunity as a position coach in the SEC came as the defensive backs coach at Tennessee in 2012. Under Ansley, safety Byron Moore tied for eighth in the NCAA with five interceptions.
He found his coaching start at Huntingdon College IN Montgomery, Ala., leading the defensive backs for five seasons (2005-09). Huntingdon achieved its first NCAA Division III playoff appearance and recorded winning records in four of his five seasons.
The Tallassee, Ala. native started 40 consecutive games at safety for Troy from 2001-04, tallying 19 career interceptions, good for second in program history. Ansley shared the field with a pair of future NFL All-Pro selections, including Pro Football Hall of Famer and Cowboys Ring of Honor member, DeMarcus Ware, and Osi Umenyiora.
Ansley and his wife, Alaea, have a daughter, Selena.

