Gerald Alexander
Gerald Alexander (born June 28, 1984) is an American football coach and former safety, who is currently the defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Boise State, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Miami Dolphins | |
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Position: | Defensive backs coach |
Personal information | |
Born: | Los Angeles, California | June 28, 1984
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight: | 209 lb (95 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Rancho Cucamonga |
College: | Boise State |
NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 2 / Pick: 61 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
As coach: | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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In the NFL, he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets.
Alexander was a former Graduate Assistant with Arkansas State University and the University of Washington. In July 2015, he became the defensive backs coach at Indiana State University. In December 2015, he accepted the position of defensive backs coach at Montana State University, working under head coach Jeff Choate. In 2017, he became the defensive backs coach at California under then-new head coach Justin Wilcox. In 2020, Alexander was hired by the Miami Dolphins to serve as defensive backs coach under Brian Flores.
Early years
Alexander attended Rancho Cucamonga High School from 1998–2002, where he was a track and field athlete as well.
He was one of the players who helped lead Boise State to their improbable Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma in the 2006 season. While at Boise State, Alexander was a four-time First-Team All-WAC selection.
Professional career
Detroit Lions
Alexander played all 16 games of his rookie season when safety Daniel Bullocks suffered a season-ending knee injury during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. During that 2007 season Gerald recorded 81 tackles, 59 solo and 22 assisted. He also had 2 sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On June 26, 2009, he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Dennis Northcutt. On October 19, 2010, the Jaguars released Alexander.[1]
Carolina Panthers
On November 23, the Panthers signed Alexander.[2] He became a free agent after the season.
Miami Dolphins
Alexander signed with the Miami Dolphins on August 28, 2011. Alexander was released on September 2, 2011 by the Miami Dolphins. Re-signed on October 19, 2011.
New York Jets
Alexander was signed by the New York Jets on December 13, 2011 to add depth to the safety position following a season-ending injury to starting safety Jim Leonhard.[3] He was released on March 14, 2012.[4]
Year | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries | Fumble Return Yards | Interceptions | Interception Return Yards | Average Yards per Interception Return | Longest Interception Return | Interceptions Returned for Touchdown | Pass Defeneded | Stuffs | Stuff Yards | Kick Blocks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | DET | 16 | 81 | 59 | 22 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 35 | 36 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | DET | 5 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
2009 | JAX | 15 | 55 | 45 | 10 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | JAX | 3 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | CAR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | MIA | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | NYJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | Total | 44 | 159 | 121 | 38 | 2.0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 93 | 23 | 36 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Coaching career
Arkansas State
Alexander served as an undergraduate assistant on the coaching staff of Arkansas State for the 2013 season.
Washington Huskies
Alexander joined the Washington Huskies coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2014 under head coach Chris Petersen.[8]
Indiana State
After participating in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship Program with the Tennessee Titans during the team's 2015 training camp, Alexander served as the defensive backs coach for Indiana State.[8]
Montana State
Alexander again participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship Program in the summer of 2016, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[8] Following the two-week program, Alexander coached Montana State's secondary.
California
Alexander joined University of California's coaching staff in 2017 as their defensive backs coach. He served in that role through the 2019 season.[9]
Miami Dolphins
On January 24, 2020, it was reported that Alexander was hired by the Miami Dolphins to serve as the team's defensive backs coach under head coach Brian Flores.[10] He missed the team's week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 8, 2020, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.[11]
References
- "Jaguars continue roster shuffling; Alexander released". jagsreport.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12.
- "Panthers add depth at quarterback and safety". charlotteobserver.com.
- Mehta, Manish (13 December 2011). "Jets sign Gerald Alexander to take Jim Leonhard's spot on roster". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- Vrentas, Jenny (14 March 2012). "Free-agent receiver Chaz Schilens to visit Jets". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- "Gerald Alexander Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- https://www.si.com/college-football/2015/07/10/gerald-alexander-indiana-state-washington
- http://www.msubobcats.com/news/2015/12/11/FB_1211151737.aspx
- McGill, Jim (25 January 2020). "Cal DB Coach Gerald Alexander Departs For NFL". Bear Insider. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- McGuire, Kevin (2020-01-24). "Cal loses assistant Gerald Alexander to NFL job". CollegeFootballTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- Williams, Charean (24 January 2020). "Dolphins hire Gerald Alexander as defensive backs coach". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Wolfe, Cameron (November 8, 2020). "Miami Dolphins without five assistant coaches due to COVID-19 protocols". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 9, 2020.