Earlier this month, Nebraska football’s interim defensive coordinator Phil Snow made it clear: the Huskers aren’t short on brainpower when it comes to fixing their defensive line. He called it an “army” of coaches working to reshape a unit that struggled mightily against the run this season.
Among the newest additions to that effort? Two-time Super Bowl champion Dave Tollefson.
Tollefson, who earned his rings with the New York Giants in 2007 and 2010, has joined Nebraska’s bowl prep staff to help coach the defensive line ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl. He’s not a full-time hire-at least not yet-but his presence is turning heads and raising questions about whether he might be a longer-term piece of Matt Rhule’s staff puzzle.
The connection between Tollefson and Rhule isn’t brand new, even if it’s been more than a decade in the making. Back in 2011, Tollefson was wrapping up his time with the Giants just as Rhule was arriving for a one-year stint with the franchise.
Fast forward to this winter: Tollefson, who has made Omaha home and previously coached for the short-lived Omaha Mammoths, reached out to Rhule via text. The message?
He wanted to lend a hand.
That outreach turned into something more. According to Rhule, the collaboration started casually-just a couple of football minds watching tape and talking technique. But it quickly evolved into something more hands-on.
“He’s helping us out through this bowl game, and then, you know, maybe talk about it afterwards,” Rhule said Saturday. “I know he’s got a family, and he’s got three young boys who wrestle.
So this was just kind of an organic thing… he was in the building, we started talking, he started watching the tape with me, and we were going through some technical things, and it just was like, ‘Hey, let’s do this.’ So he’s doing it for now, and then we’ll see what happens.”
Right now, Tollefson’s role is focused on helping Nebraska gear up for Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. And let’s be honest: the Huskers could use all the help they can get.
The defensive line was a sore spot throughout the regular season, particularly when it came to stopping the run. That’s where Tollefson’s NFL pedigree could make a real impact-not just in terms of scheme, but in the finer points of technique and mindset.
For a young group still finding its identity, having someone who’s played at the highest level and won on the biggest stage brings instant credibility. Tollefson’s not just another voice in the room; he’s someone who’s been in the trenches, literally, and understands what it takes to win those battles snap after snap.
Whether this turns into a permanent gig for Tollefson remains to be seen. Rhule’s keeping that door open, but he’s not rushing into anything. For now, the focus is on the bowl game-and on whether this “army” of defensive minds can help Nebraska finish the year on a high note.
What’s clear is that Rhule is willing to get creative in building his coaching staff, especially when it comes to fixing one of the team’s most pressing issues. And if Tollefson ends up sticking around-whether as an on-field coach or a behind-the-scenes analyst-his influence could be a key piece in the Huskers’ defensive turnaround.