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Defensive Coordinator
A coaching veteran of 32 years, Bob Sanders in 2008 begins his fourth season in Green Bay and his third as the club's defensive coordinator.
Named to his position Jan. 21, 2006, by Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Sanders was promoted after coaching Green Bay's defensive ends in 2005.
This past season, the 54-year-old Sanders kept a defense that had improved dramatically at the end of 2006 among the league's better units in 2007. Led by a second straight Pro Bowl campaign from end Aaron Kampman and another superb season by middle linebacker Nick Barnett, Green Bay's defense ranked 11th in the league in total yards and sixth in scoring, allowing just 291 points. The unit also ranked third in third-down defense and eighth in red-zone defense. The strong year was highlighted by a shutout of division rival Minnesota during which NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson was held to just 45 rushing yards.
The groundwork for that success was laid the previous year, when Sanders stayed the course through some early struggles in 2006 and during the final month had the defense playing as well as any in the NFL. During the team's season-ending four-game winning streak, the defense allowed just three touchdowns and an average of 225.5 yards per game, bringing the team up from near the bottom of the league rankings in November to 12th overall and fifth in the NFC.
The improvement was noticeable in all three levels of the defense, particularly with some of the younger players. Cullen Jenkins took over as a starting defensive end, rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk began to truly stand out, and second-year safety Nick Collins made a series of impact plays. That blending of youth with veteran presences such as Kampman, Barnett, Al Harris and Charles Woodson made the Packers a formidable defense as the season concluded.
Upon taking the coordinator position, Sanders brought continuity to a defense that ranked seventh overall and first against the pass in 2005, up from 25th in both categories the previous season.
Consistent pressure from both defensive ends in 2005 was a major reason the Packers led the league in passing defense. Under Sanders that year, Kampman recorded a then-career-best 6.5 sacks and at the time the second-most tackles (105) by a Packers defensive lineman ever recorded (Ezra Johnson, 107 in 1983), showing signs of his breakthrough, Pro Bowl year to come in 2006. On the other side, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila posted a career-high 81 tackles in 2005 and surpassed No. 2 Tim Harris on the franchise's all-time sacks list.
Sanders came to the Packers after four seasons (2001-04) as linebackers coach of the Miami Dolphins. Sanders' unit contributed greatly to the overall success of the Dolphins' defense, which ranked fifth in the NFL against the run in both 2003 and '04. His individual tutoring helped Zach Thomas to three straight Pro Bowl selections (2001-2003) and, at the time, four of his top five single-season tackle totals.
Before joining the professional ranks, Sanders coached 22 years in the college game, including 15 seasons tutoring defensive linemen in some capacity.
Seven of those campaigns were at the University of Florida, where three of his pupils, Jevon Kearse, Kevin Carter and Huey Richardson, became first-round selections in the NFL Draft. While Sanders was with Florida, the Gators led the Southeastern Conference in sacks four straight seasons (1996-99).
With the Gators for 11 years (1990-2000), Sanders coached multiple defensive positions, helping the club capture five SEC championships and the 1995 national title.
Prior to his time at Florida, Sanders spent five years at Duke. In his last season with the Blue Devils, 1989, the squad went 8-4 and won the school's first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship since 1965.
Sanders earlier got his start in the college ranks at Georgia Tech (part-time coach, 1978) and then served at East Carolina (1980-82) and Richmond (1983-84). He also coached three years (1976-77, 1979) in the high school ranks.
A former linebacker at Davidson College (1973-75), Sanders graduated from the school in 1976 with a B.S. degree in political science.
Born in Jacksonville, N.C., he and his wife, Kathie, have two daughters, Lindsay, 28, and Sarah, 27, and a son, Robby, 16. The family lives in Green Bay. In his spare time he enjoys fishing and playing golf.
SANDERS AT A GLANCE
- Originally joined Packers Feb. 8, 2005; promoted to defensive coordinator by Mike McCarthy Jan. 21, 2006.
- As defensive ends coach in 2005, tutored Aaron Kampman and laid the groundwork for his breakthrough, Pro Bowl season in 2006.
- Has directed the Packers' defense to near-Top 10 rankings (12th and 11th in total yards) in each of his two seasons as coordinator.
- While with the Miami Dolphins, coached Zach Thomas to three straight Pro Bowl selections (2001-03).
- Coached 22 seasons at the college level, helping pupils Jevon Kearse, Kevin Carter and Huey Richardson become first-round NFL draft picks.
- Primarily a defensive player at Davidson College.
COACHING BACKGROUND:
| Year | College/Pro Team | Position Coached |
| 1978 | Georgia Tech | Part-time Coach |
| 1980-82 | East Carolina | Defensive Line/Linebackers |
| 1983-84 | Richmond | Linebackers |
| 1985-88 | Duke | Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends |
| 1989 | Duke | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers |
| 1990 | Univ. of Florida | Defensive Ends |
| 1991-93 | Univ. of Florida | Asst. Defensive Co-Coordinator/Banditbacks/Gatorbacks |
| 1994-97 | Univ. of Florida | Asst. Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends |
| 1998 | Univ. of Florida | Asst. Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends/Strong-side Linebackers |
| 1999 | Univ. of Florida | Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Ends/Strong-side Linebackers |
| 2000 | Univ. of Florida | Asst. Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2001-04 | Miami Dolphins | Linebackers |
| 2005 | Green Bay Packers | Defensive Ends |
| 2006-08 | Green Bay Packers | Defensive Coordinator |