Jerry Montgomery begins his seventh season with the Packers in 2021 and fourth as defensive line coach after spending three seasons (2015-17) as defensive front assistant. He joined the Packers after coaching at the collegiate level for 11 seasons and at the high-school level for two seasons. Originally named to his current position on Jan. 24, 2018, and retained by Head Coach Matt LaFleur on Jan. 31, 2019, Montgomery has been a part of 10 teams as either a player or coach that have earned postseason berths.
Under Montgomery's guidance in 2020, DL Kenny Clark remained one of the NFL's best interior defenders. Clark finished the season strong, registering 2 1/2 sacks in the postseason, marking just the ninth time a Packer (since 1982) had registered a sack in multiple games in the same postseason. DL Kingsley Keke continued to develop in his second season with Montgomery, finishing last season with four sacks to rank tied for No. 3 on the team.
In 2019, Clark earned his first career Pro Bowl nod and matched his career high (2018) with six sacks. Additionally, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, Clark's 49 QB pressures ranked No. 2 in the NFL in '19 among players who played at least 75 percent of their snaps on the interior defensive line, trailing only Rams DT Aaron Donald (69). Clark also ranked No. 2 on the team with a career-high 89 tackles (52 solo), including 11 tackles for a loss.
In 2018, the line contributed to a defense that tied for No. 8 in the NFL with 44 sacks, the most by the Packers since they posted the same number in 2013. In his third season as a pro, Clark was No. 2 on the team with a career-high six sacks despite missing three games due to injury. Named a Pro Bowl alternate, Clark was tied for the team lead with 13 tackles for a loss and led the line with 73 tackles (46 solo).
Montgomery's third season in Green Bay in 2017 saw him help guide DT Mike Daniels, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection while ranking No. 4 on the team with five sacks to go along with a career-high 72 tackles. Clark led the defensive line with 78 tackles, and his 4½ sacks in December were the second most in the NFL among DTs.
Montgomery spent two seasons (2013-14) as the defensive line coach at Oklahoma, where he also played a big role in recruiting, being named Scout.com's Big 12 Recruiter of the Year after the 2014 season. After joining the Oklahoma staff on Feb. 25, 2013, he helped revamp the Sooners' defensive line with young players that included Charles Tapper, a 2013 All-Big 12 first-team selection by the conference's coaches. In his first season, OU led the Big 12 and ranked No. 10 in the nation in opponent third-down conversions (60). The Sooners also led the Big 12 in total defense (350.2 ypg) and pass defense (212.5 ypg) and ranked second in turnover margin (plus-9), run defense (137.6 ypg) and opponent third-down percentage (33.7).
In his two years at Michigan, the Wolverines posted a 19-7 record and limited opponents to 18.6 points per game, and two of Montgomery's linemen, Mike Martin and Craig Roh, earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2012, the Wolverines earned a berth in the Capital One Bowl and ranked No. 13 among FBS schools in total defense (320.0 ypg). In 2011, Michigan allowed 131.7 rushing yards per game, third best in the Big Ten, and finished 11-2 with a victory in the Sugar Bowl.
Montgomery helped produce three All-Mountain West Conference linemen in two years at Wyoming. In his first season, he guided John Fletcher to an All-MWC first-team selection and Mitch Unrein to All-MWC honorable mention and selection as the 2009 New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP. In Montgomery's second season, Josh Biezuns earned second-team All-MWC honors.
Montgomery's tenure at Northern Iowa began as a graduate assistant/defensive tackles coach in 2006 and finished with two years (2007-08) as the defensive line coach. The Panthers advanced to the FCS playoffs all three seasons, won the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference title and finished with 12 wins in both 2007 and 2008. UNI ranked in the top 10 in total defense among FCS teams in both 2007 and 2008.
In two years as defensive line coach at UNI, Montgomery had three all-conference selections both seasons: James Ruffin (first-team All-Gateway and first-team All-MVFC), Mark Huygens (second-team All-Gateway), Jordan Lacy (honorable mention All-Gateway), Everette Pedscleaux (first-team All-MVFC) and Jeremy Robertson (second-team All-MVFC).
Montgomery began his coaching career as a student assistant at Iowa. He was part of a Hawkeye staff that helped Iowa post an 11-2 record and play in the 2003 Orange Bowl. Montgomery continued coaching as an assistant at Iowa City West High School (2003-04) and as the defensive coordinator at North Iowa Community College (2005) while also playing for the Chicago Rush, Colorado Crush and Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League (2003-05).
Montgomery played defensive tackle for Iowa, starting three of his four years for the Hawkeyes. As a senior in 2001, he helped Iowa tie for a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten, its highest since 1996, and beat Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl. He played in the Hula Bowl All-Star Game following his senior season and spent the 2002 training camp with the New Orleans Saints.
Montgomery was born Sept. 19, 1979, in Los Angeles, Calif., and raised in Mossville, La. He was named a Street & Smith All-American two straight years at Virgin Valley High School (Mesquite, Nev.) as he recorded 38 career sacks, including 16 as a senior. Montgomery was named the Nevada Player of the Year in 1997 and was also a member of the state-champion basketball team as a junior.
Montgomery and his wife, Natalie, have three sons, Jayden, Tevyn and Jace, and two daughters, Talayla and Havana.
