Ty McKenize enters his first season as the defensive assistant/linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. He brings six years of NFL coaching experience with him after having played in the league for five seasons as a linebacker.
McKenzie served as a defensive analyst at North Carolina in 2024, working primarily with the linebackers, where he saw the defense improve statistically in total defense. He helped LB Power Echols earn honorable mention All-ACC honors after recording 102 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception and two forced fumbles. The Tarheels' defense also finished fourth in the conference in sacks (41). McKenzie also coached the kickoff cover unit that finished fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference after previously finishing last the year before. He oversaw the returners on the kickoff return unit that finished second in the conference and 11th overall in the NCAA.
In 2022, McKenzie served as the outside linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins made the playoffs in their first year under a new staff, the first time since 2016. The defensive staff is also credited for bolstering the rushing unit into the fourth-best unit in the NFL. Under McKenzie's guidance, LB Elandon Roberts registered 100-plus tackles for the first time in his career. LB Jaelan Phillips recorded career numbers with 7.0 sacks and became an all-down player, playing more than 82% of snaps and finishing third in solo tackles as an edge defender (44), fifth in total pressures (79), fifth in quarterback hits (19), and fourth in quarterback hurries (52). McKenzie also worked with LB Bradley Chubb who earned his second career Pro Bowl selection after finishing with 8.0 sacks and ranking third in forced fumbles, a career high.
Prior to joining the Dolphins, McKenzie spent the 2021 season with the Indianapolis Colts as a coaching fellow, assisting with linebackers and quality control. The Colts had one of the top-rated defenses in 2021, where they ranked ninth in scoring, 10th in rushing, eighth in explosive plays allowed, third in three and outs, and second in takeaways (33). 25 of the 33 takeaways were recorded by linebackers thanks to the tutelage of Dave Borgonzi and McKenzie. Linebacker Darius Leonard was named 2021 All-Pro and a Pro Bowl first team selection, while linebacker Bobby Okereke was named a Pro Bowl alternate. The Colts were also the least penalized team in the NFL in 2021.
In 2020, McKenzie served as linebackers coach for Detroit. He worked with linebacker Jamie Collins, who led the team with 101 tackles, three forced fumbles, five TFLs, 1.0 sacks, and an interception. Collins was tied for second on the team with six passes defensed that year. Also under McKenzie, Jahlani Tavai became the first player in franchise history to produce at least eight tackles, two forced fumbles, and one tackle for loss in one game. The Lions in 2020 were the first team since 2000 to have multiple players produce 10+ tackles and two forced fumbles in a game during the season (Jamie Collins and Jahlani Tavai).
McKenzie spent two seasons (2018-19) with the Tennessee Titans as inside linebackers coach. In 2019, McKenzie helped the Titans reach the AFC Championship game. Inside linebacker Rashaan Evans was second on the team in tackles (111) and tackles for loss (9). In 2018, McKenzie mentored inside linebacker Jayon Brown, who was one of just six NFL linebackers to have at least six sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the season. Tennessee had the third-ranked scoring defense (18.9) in the league that year, which was the team's best scoring defense since 2008. The Titans also finished second in red zone defense (44.7).
McKenzie's first NFL coaching job was in 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams, where he served as an assistant special teams coach. He helped the Rams win the NFC West that season and finish No. 1 in Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings. Four Rams specialists – punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Greg Zuerlein, long snapper Jake McQuaide and returner Pharoh Cooper – earned Pro Bowl selections.
Prior to entering the NFL, McKenzie was a defensive assistant at Stanford in 2016. He worked with the defensive line, coaching defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, who became the third overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the highest-selected non-quarterback in Stanford history. Thomas also earned first-team All-Pac 12 and second team All-America honors in 2016.
McKenzie moved into the collegiate coaching ranks in 2015 as a graduate assistant at Colorado.
His first coaching job was at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, where he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for two seasons (2013-14).
PERSONAL: Originally a third-round pick (97th overall) by the New England Patriots in 2009, McKenzie played five years in the NFL with the Patriots (2009), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010) and Minnesota Vikings (2011-13). He was selected as a Pro Bowl special teams player in 2012. A graduate of South Florida, McKenzie was the active tackle leader in the NCAA at the time of his graduation. McKenzie lettered two seasons (2007-08) as a linebacker at South Florida, where he led the team in tackles both seasons. He earned second-team All-Big East honors as a junior in 2007 and first-team All-Big East honors as a senior in 2008 and finished his career as the school's single-season record holder for tackles (121 in 2007). McKenzie also played one season each at Michigan State (2004) and Iowa State (2006). He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore in 2006. A Tampa native, McKenzie has five children.
