Gerald Alexander

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1984)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Gerald Alexander

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers

| number =

| position = Defensive backs coach

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|28}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lbs = 209

| high_school = Rancho Cucamonga {{avoid wrap|(Rancho Cucamonga, California)}}

| college = Boise State

| draftyear = 2007

| draftround = 2

| draftpick = 61

| pastteams =

Detroit Lions ({{nfly|2007}}–{{nfly|2008}})
Jacksonville Jaguars ({{nfly|2009}}–{{nfly|2010}})
Carolina Panthers ({{nfly|2010}})
Miami Dolphins ({{nfly|2011}})
New York Jets ({{nfly|2011}})

| pastcoaching =

Arkansas State (2013)
Student assistant
Washington (2014)
Graduate assistant
Indiana State (2015)
Defensive backs coach
Montana State (2016)
Defensive backs coach
California (2017–2019)
Defensive backs coach
Miami Dolphins ({{nfly|2020|2021}})
Defensive backs coach
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{nfly|2022|2023}})
Assistant defensive backs coach
Las Vegas Raiders ({{nfly|2024}})
Safeties coach
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{nfly|2025}}–present)
Defensive backs coach

| highlights =

4× First-team All-WAC

| statweek =

| statseason =

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 159

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 2.0

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 3

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 = 4

| statlabel5 = Interceptions

| statvalue5 = 4

| pfr = AlexGe99

}}

Gerald Alexander (born June 28, 1984) is an American football coach and former safety. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. He is currently the defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Alexander was a former graduate assistant with Arkansas State University and 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.

Early life

Alexander attended Rancho Cucamonga High School from 1998 to 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.{{cite web|title=Jaguars continue roster shuffling; Alexander released|url=http://jagsreport.com/2010/10/246/jaguars-continue-roster-shuffling-alexander-released/|publisher=jagsreport.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712184512/http://jagsreport.com/2010/10/246/jaguars-continue-roster-shuffling-alexander-released/|archive-date=July 12, 2012}}

=Carolina Panthers=

On November 23, the Panthers signed Alexander.{{cite web|title=Panthers add depth at quarterback and safety |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/23/1861886/panthers-add-depth-at-quarterback.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526043634/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/23/1861886/panthers-add-depth-at-quarterback.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |publisher=charlotteobserver.com }} 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.{{cite news |title=Jets sign Gerald Alexander to take Jim Leonhard's spot on roster |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/12/jets-sign-gerald-alexander-to-take-jim-leonhards-spot-on-roster |work=New York Daily News |author=Mehta, Manish |date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108003830/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/12/jets-sign-gerald-alexander-to-take-jim-leonhards-spot-on-roster |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |access-date=December 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He was released on March 14, 2012.{{cite news |title=Free-agent receiver Chaz Schilens to visit Jets |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/03/free-agent_receiver_chaz_schil.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Vrentas, Jenny |date=March 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317050221/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/03/free-agent_receiver_chaz_schil.html |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

=Statistics=

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
class="wikitable"
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

{{cite web|title=Gerald Alexander Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/10505/gerald-alexander|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=January 22, 2014}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.si.com/college-football/2015/07/10/gerald-alexander-indiana-state-washington | title=Indiana State hires 31-year-old Gerald Alexander as new DBS coach }}{{Cite web | url=http://www.msubobcats.com/news/2015/12/11/FB_1211151737.aspx | title=Gerald Alexander, Former NFL 2nd Round Draft Choice, Joins MSU Staff }}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://bearinsider.com/s/2038/cal-db-coach-gerald-alexander-departs-for-nfl|title=Cal DB Coach Gerald Alexander Departs For NFL|last=McGill|first=Jim|date=January 25, 2020|website=Bear Insider|access-date=January 25, 2020}}

=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.

=Montana State=

Alexander again participated in the Bill Walsh Minority Internship Program in the summer of 2016, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 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.{{Cite web|title=Cal loses assistant Gerald Alexander to NFL job|url=https://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/24/cal-gerald-alexander-nfl-miami-dolphins/|last=McGuire|first=Kevin|date=January 24, 2020|website=CollegeFootballTalk {{!}} NBC Sports|language=en-US|access-date=May 25, 2020}}

=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.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/01/24/dolphins-hire-gerald-alexander-as-defensive-backs-coach/|title=Dolphins hire Gerald Alexander as defensive backs coach|last=Williams|first=Charean|date=January 24, 2020|website=ProFootballTalk|access-date=January 25, 2020}} He missed the team's week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 8, 2020, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.{{cite news |author=Wolfe, Cameron |title=Miami Dolphins without five assistant coaches due to COVID-19 protocols |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30279861/miami-dolphins-five-assistant-coaches-due-covid-19-protocols |website=ESPN.com |date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=November 9, 2020}} On February 10, 2022, Alexander was fired by the Dolphins.{{Cite web | url=https://dolphinstalk.com/2022/02/breaking-news-dolphins-fire-defensive-backs-coach-gerald-alexander/ | title=Breaking News: Dolphins Fire Defensive Backs Coach Gerald Alexander | date=February 10, 2022 }}

Alexander was in his second year as the team's assistant defensive backs coach.

=Pittsburgh Steelers=

In his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alexander assisted with a Steelers secondary that tied for first in the League in interceptions with 20 in 2022. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick led the group with a career-high and League-leading six interceptions, earning Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.

=Las Vegas Raiders=

Alexander was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders under new head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco.{{Cite web |last=Strackbein |first=Noah |date=January 24, 2024 |title=Raiders Hire Steelers Assistant Coach |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/las-vegas-raiders-hire-pittsburgh-steelers-gerald-alexander |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated Pittsburgh Steelers News, Analysis and More |language=en}}

=Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)=

On February 8, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Alexander as their assistant defensive backs coach.{{Cite web|title=Steelers Make First Coaching Chnage|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-first-coaching-change-hire-gerald-alexander|access-date=February 9, 2025|website=si.com|language=en}}