Oklahoma co-DC reportedly leaving to join NFL coaching staff
By Luke Greco
Published:
Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai will be joining the Buffalo Bills’ defensive staff for the 2026 NFL season.
After spending the past 4 seasons with the Sooners, Valai will be joining the Bills’ defensive staff as their cornerbacks coach. Valai, a former cornerback for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2006 to 2010, will be joining fellow Wisconsin alum Jim Leonhard’s staff, the Bills’ new DC.
Valai does have NFL experience, as he was the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive quality control coach in 2018.
The Sooners had the 7th-ranked scoring defense this past year, allowing only 15.46 points per game. In 13 total games, the Oklahoma defense allowed 20 touchdowns. Replacing Valai will be a huge part of head coach Brent Venables‘ plan this offseason.
Valai joins a Bills defense that is coming off one of its best recent seasons. This past season, the Bills’ defense ranked 7th in total yards allowed per game, 1st in passing yards per game, and 12th in total scoring defense.
Valai got his start coaching in 2016 with the Georgia Bulldogs as a defensive quality control coach. He then made the jump to the NFL and worked as the DQC for the Chiefs. In 2019, he returned to college and joined Rutgers as its cornerbacks coach. He then joined Texas and Alabama in consecutive years before joining Oklahoma in 2022.
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