Gerald Alexander is entering his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 as the defensive backs/safeties coach, bringing with him 11 years of coaching experience, including four seasons in the NFL.
Prior to Las Vegas, Alexander spent two seasons (2022-23) with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the assistant defensive backs coach. Over his time in Pittsburgh, the Steelers secondary recorded 36 interceptions, tied for the second-most in the NFL. Last season (2023), the Steelers defense allowed just an 84.7 passer rating to opponents, the 10th lowest mark in the NFL. In 2022, Alexander assisted with a unit posted 20 interceptions, tied for the league lead. His unit was led by S Minkah Fitzpatrick who recorded a career-high six interceptions, the most in the NFL and the most in a single season by a Steeler since 2010 (Troy Polamalu, 7) – earning a Pro Bowl nod and his third career AP First Team All-Pro selection.
Alexander started his coaching career in the NFL in 2020 with the Miami Dolphins, serving as defensive backs coach for two seasons (2020-21). In 2021 the Dolphins defense allowed just an 85.4 passer rating to opponents, the seventh best mark in the NFL. In 2020, Alexander's unit tied for first in the NFL in interceptions (18) with the help of a career year from CB Xavien Howard under his guidance here he led the League in interceptions (10) and pass breakups (20), was named to the Pro Bowl and earned First Team All-Pro honors for the first time. Alexander also held three National Football League minority coaching internships with Tennessee (2015), Tampa Bay (2016), and Miami Dolphins (2019).
Prior to the NFL, Alexander coached at the college level, making stops at California (2017-19), Montana State (2016), Indiana State (2015), Washington (2014) and Arkansas State (2013). Before his stint with the Dolphins, Alexander coached defensive backs at California for three seasons (2017-19).
In 2019, Alexander mentored two All-Pac-12 defensive backs in Camryn Bynum and Ashtyn Davis. Davis began his career as a walk-on and was one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the nation's top player who began his collegiate career as a walk-on. Davis was a third-round pick of the N.Y. Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft. Bynum was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Minnesota.
Alexander's unit was one of the nation's best in 2018. Cal led the Pac-12 and ranked ninth nationally in passing defense, allowing just 175.1 passing yards per game, while leading the Pac-12 and ranking second nationally with 21 interceptions.
In Alexander's first season at California in 2017, he helped the Bears defense improve in 14 of the 15 primary team defensive statistics. Bynum was named the team's Most Valuable Freshman after leading all defensive backs on the team with 58 tackles.
Alexander also coached defensive backs at Montana State (2016) and Indiana State (2015), his first position coach jobs. He was a graduate assistant working with defensive backs at Washington in 2014, tutoring two future second-round NFL draft picks in Sidney Jones and Budda Baker. Before Washington, Alexander got his start in the collegiate coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State in 2013 and got his start in coaching in 2012 at Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School, where he was a volunteer assistant.
As a player, Alexander was chosen in the second round (61st overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. Alexander appeared in 44 games, starting 30 at safety over his five-year NFL career with Detroit (2007-08), Jacksonville (2009-10), Carolina (2010), Miami (2011) and the New York Jets (2011). He finished with 154 tackles (116 solo), 14 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 2.0 sacks.
PERSONAL: A native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. …Played five seasons in the NFL with stops in Detroit (2007-08), Jacksonville (2009-10), Carolina (2010), Miami (2011) and the New York Jets (2011)…Played in a total of 44 games with 30 starts, totaling 154 tackles (116 solo), two sacks, four interceptions, 14 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries…Originally entered the NFL as a second-round pick (61st overall) by Detroit in the 2007 NFL Draft…Alexander played safety at Boise State (2003-06) and graduated with a degree in communications…Helped Boise State to four consecutive conference titles and a 46-6 record…He was a senior on Boise State's 2006 squad that went 13-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl…He and his wife, Krystina, have three sons – Kaelin, Kamari and Kaleel – and one daughter, Kahrye.
