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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have added Gill Byrd to their 2014 coaching staff as a cornerbacks coach, the team has announced. Byrd was a two-time Pro Bowler as a player for the San Diego Chargers and is that franchise's all-time interceptions leader.
Byrd has been coaching in the NFL since 2003 and was most recently the assistant defensive backs/safeties coach for the Chicago Bears from 2008 until 2013, being let go along with the rest of Lovie Smith's defensive staff last year. As far as I can tell this is his first time as a pure cornerbacks coach.
One intriguing connection is that with Byrd's son Jairus Byrd, who plays for the Buffalo Bills as a safety, is a three-time Pro Bowler and will be a free agent this offseason. With Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron already on the team, though, it would seem unlikely for the Buccaneers to go after him in free agency. A more logical connection might be former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman.
Along with the 11 coaches announced yesterday, the Buccaneers now have their coaching staff nearly complete. The only open position is that of offensive line coach, and the long-rumored candidate to fill that position is Tony Sparano
