Oklahoma’s Secondary Takes a Hit as Jay Valai Heads to the NFL
Oklahoma’s defense has been a rising force under Brent Venables, but now it’s facing a significant shakeup in the secondary. Jay Valai, the Sooners’ cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator, is heading to the NFL. The Buffalo Bills are bringing Valai aboard as their new defensive backs coach, where he’ll be part of Joe Brady’s first staff and work under newly appointed defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
For Oklahoma, this is more than just a staff change - it’s the loss of a key architect behind a defense that’s been trending upward in both performance and identity. Valai has been a staple on Venables’ staff since 2022, helping shape a unit that’s become one of the most efficient in the country, especially against the pass.
Valai’s move comes shortly after Oklahoma’s Board of Regents approved a one-year extension and raise for him. He was set to make $785,000 in 2026 - a $35,000 bump from the previous year - with a contract that would’ve run through January 2027. But despite efforts from the Sooners to retain him, Valai is heading back to the NFL, where he previously spent the 2018 season as a defensive quality control assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs.
This move reunites two Wisconsin alums in Buffalo - Valai and Leonhard - though their playing days in Madison didn’t overlap. Still, it’s a natural fit for Valai, whose coaching résumé has been building toward another NFL opportunity.
After wrapping up his playing career as a two-time All-Big Ten defensive back, Valai entered the coaching ranks in 2016 as a defensive analyst under Kirby Smart at Georgia. He then made the jump to the NFL with the Chiefs in 2018 before returning to college football. His stops included Rutgers, Texas, and Alabama before landing in Norman as part of Venables’ inaugural staff.
And his impact at Oklahoma? It’s been substantial.
Over the past four seasons, Valai helped develop standout defensive backs like Eli Bowen, who earned Freshman All-American honors in 2024 and followed that up with an All-SEC nod in 2025. Then there’s Courtland Guillory, who made the SEC All-Freshman team this past season.
Those aren’t just individual accolades - they’re signs of a coach who knows how to identify talent and elevate it.
Statistically, the Sooners’ secondary under Valai and safeties coach Brandon Hall was one of the stingiest in the country in 2025. Oklahoma ranked 32nd nationally and fourth in the SEC in passing defense, giving up just 195.2 yards per game through the air. They allowed only 11 passing touchdowns all season - tied for sixth-best in the FBS.
The advanced metrics back it up, too. OU finished 22nd in pass efficiency defense (115.85), 19th in yards allowed per pass attempt (6.2), and 31st in opponent completion percentage (59%).
And it wasn’t just the pass defense that stood out - the entire unit was elite. The Sooners ranked seventh in scoring defense (15.5 points per game), sixth in total defense (272.5 yards per game), fourth in yards allowed per play (4.28), and fourth in defensive SP+.
This marks the second departure from Oklahoma’s staff this offseason. Earlier, the Sooners brought in future Hall of Famer Jason Witten to replace Joe Jon Finley as tight ends coach.
It’s also the third straight offseason Venables has had to reshuffle his defensive staff. Ted Roof was let go after the 2023 season, and Zac Alley left for West Virginia after 2024.
So now, Venables faces another key hire - and it’s a big one. Valai wasn’t just a position coach; he was a critical piece of the defensive brain trust. Whoever steps into that role will inherit a talented secondary, but also the pressure of maintaining - and building on - the standard Valai helped set.
For Valai, the move to Buffalo is the next chapter in a fast-rising career. For Oklahoma, it’s time to regroup, reload, and find the next coach who can keep the Sooners’ defense among the nation’s best.