Oklahoma football is riding a wave of momentum. After a College Football Playoff appearance and a strong recruiting haul, Brent Venables enters year five with a program that looks like it's turning the corner-and turning heads.
Quarterback John Mateer is back for his senior season, hoping to build on last year’s success and lead the Sooners even deeper into the postseason. But as the team gears up for what could be a pivotal campaign, one key figure from the coaching staff won’t be making the journey with them.
Jay Valai, Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for defense, co-defensive coordinator, and the man responsible for shaping the cornerbacks and nickelbacks, is heading to the NFL. According to reports, he’s set to become the Buffalo Bills' new cornerbacks coach.
Valai’s departure is a significant one-not just because of his title, but because of the impact he had on Oklahoma’s defense. A former standout defensive back at Wisconsin, Valai brought both credibility and energy to the Sooners' sideline. Since arriving in Norman in 2022, he’s been instrumental in helping build one of the stingiest defenses in the country.
Last season, that unit was nothing short of elite. The Sooners allowed just 15.5 points per game and 272.5 total yards-both tops in the SEC.
That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by accident. While the offense had its ups and downs late in the year, the defense held the line, keeping Oklahoma in games and ultimately helping punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.
Valai's partnership with defensive line coach and co-coordinator Todd Bates was a major reason for that success. Together, they crafted a defense that was fast, physical, and disciplined-hallmarks of a Venables-led team. With Valai now off to the NFL, Bates will continue anchoring the defensive identity in Norman, but there’s no question Valai’s presence will be missed.
As for Valai, he steps into a high-pressure situation in Buffalo. The Bills are in the midst of retooling their coaching staff, and expectations remain sky-high as the franchise continues its decades-long quest for a Super Bowl title. If Valai can replicate the kind of development and schematic savvy he showed at Oklahoma, he could be on a fast track up the NFL coaching ranks.
Back in Norman, the Sooners will regroup. Venables has built a culture that leans on depth, development, and adaptability-traits that will be tested this offseason. Losing a coach like Valai isn’t easy, but the foundation he helped build should hold strong.
The path forward is clear: reload, refocus, and keep building. Oklahoma’s defense has become a calling card under Venables, and with Mateer returning to lead the offense, expectations remain sky-high. Jay Valai’s next chapter is in the NFL, but his fingerprints will still be all over the Sooners' 2026 campaign.