Head Coach
Wade Phillips: Perhaps the most experienced coach in the entirety of the XFL, Wade Phillips is a name every football fan is going to identify. A career that started in 1976 as a linebackers coach. Honing his craft in various defensive positions including the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator for a while in stints with the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Denver Broncos. He then joined the Buffalo Bills as a defensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach status in 1998. Enjoying various defensive coordinator and head coaching roles since then, Wade’s most recent stint came with the Los Angeles Rams where he was the defensive coordinator from 2017-2019.
Offensive Coaches
Supporting Phillips’s offense will be a litany of offensive coaches that comprise:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: A.J. Smith - A returnee from the 2020 iteration, Smith was the wide receivers coach for the Roughnecks. He did a stellar job, leading the team to a 5-0 record. Prior to this, he led the Mississippi-Ridgeland Academy to a 6A State Championship. His success got him hired at Tyler Junior College, where he once again anchored a record-setting offense. His dream of becoming offensive coordinator finally has come true with the Roughnecks and the team will be expecting similar results as the 2020 version.
Offensive Line: Andre Gurode - A perennially successful player, Gurode will be looking to duplicate his success as a player for the Roughnecks. In his collegiate career, Gurode was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior. As a pro, he spent nine seasons with Dallas and was named to five Pro Bowls. This is his first coaching opportunity but with the success he had as a player, the team will be hoping for a strong showing from him in the coaching ranks.
Running Backs: John Estes - Another returnee from the 2020 season, Estes will be rejoining the Roughnecks coaching ranks after serving as the Offensive Line coach in 2020. Coming from a family of football players, Estes’ grandfather, uncle, brother, and cousins were all brilliant players at the collegiate and professional levels.
Wide Receivers: Payton Pardee - Grandson of Jack Pardee, former coach of Houston Gamblers in the original USFL in 1984, Pardee is a relatively no-name joining the coaching ranks for one of the better teams in the competition. Pardee enjoyed a career at the University of Houston from 2015-18 and worked at Texas A&M- Commerce before getting the call from head coach Wade Phillips.
Offensive Quality Control: Marvin Williams - A prior coaching teammate of AJ Smith, Williams was the offensive line coach during Smith’s tenure as offensive coordinator for the Calvary Baptist Academy. The prior experience should help in his adjustment to professional football but ultimately, he can offer great advice and support for the rest of the staff, having been a tight end for the Washington Redskins.
Defensive Coaches
On the defensive side, the Defenders will be employing:
Defensive Coordinator: Brian Stewart - Having enjoyed a long collegiate coaching and NFL career, Stewart’s experience and leadership were key reasons that made him suitable for this role. He began his career as an offensive assistant at Cal Poly before being promoted to the WRs coach role. He had stints in Northern Arizona, Missouri, Syracuse, and San Jose State before moving on to the NFL. His NFL career started as an Assistant Defensive Backs coach for the Houston Texans before assuming the role with the Chargers and followed it up by becoming a Defensive Coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys. He returned to the college ranks with Houston and then became a premier Defensive Backs coach and Defensive coordinator in various stints with Maryland, Rice, Nebraska, and Baylor, among others.
Defensive Line: Bill Johnson - Johnson just finished his coaching duties as a defensive line coach in the USFL in 2022. There, he coached the champions Birmingham Stallions, a feat he’d be looking to repeat in the XFL. Johnson is familiar with head coach Wade Phillips, having worked with him on the Falcons, and then the Rams. He also has coaching experience in the SEC and even won the national championship at LSU.
Defensive Backs: Morgan Ford - Making the jump from small-school college football to the professional level, Ford will be shifting coaching jobs from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, with prior experience at East Texas Baptist, and Lamar. Having spent time at cornerbacks, and special teams, there is plenty of upside with this hire given his young age. He will be looking to replicate the 2020 team’s success and bring forward a fast-paced unit.
Special Teams Coordinator: Greg McMahon - Similar to DL coach Bill Johnson, McMahon is going to be making a switch from USFL to XFL. He held the same role with the Houston Gamblers, doubling as the Tight Ends coach. McMahon and Johnson won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints together and the LSU championship in 2019. While an overlooked component on the field, Johnson understands the importance of special teams.
FAQs
