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Todd Grantham leaving NFL for Big 12 defensive coordinator role, per report
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Todd Grantham has spent the last 2 seasons with the New Orleans Saints as their defensive line coach and now the former SEC defensive coordinator appears to be nearing a return to the collegiate ranks — this time to the Big 12.
Grantham will join Oklahoma State as its new defensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN’s Chris Low. He will replace Bryan Nardo, who was fired after 2 seasons.
Mike Gundy is hiring veteran Todd Grantham to be @CowboyFB’s new defensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. Grantham has extensive DC experience at both the NFL and college level, including stops at Florida and Georgia. He was on the Saints’ defensive staff this season.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 8, 2024
The Cowboys finished 2024 with a 3-9 mark and a winless record in Big 12 play — their first season with a losing record since 2005, the first year of the Mike Gundy era. OSU finished 133rd out of 134 FBS teams in yards allowed per game (500.6) and 126th in points allowed per game (35.6). The Cowboys gave up 38 points or more in their final 8 games, including two 50-point games.
Gundy and Oklahoma State’s administration were embroiled in a stalemate after the season over his contract, but the longtime head coach eventually agreed to a reworked deal with a pay cut to remain with the program.
Grantham will be walking into a situation that expects immediate results. The longtime assistant has made numerous stops, including at Florida, where he was DC from 2018-2021 before joining Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as an analyst in 2022.
Before Florida, he was at Georgia from 2010-2013, Louisville from 2014-2016, and Mississippi State in 2017.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
