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Nebraska parts ways with defensive coordinator John Butler

On3 imageby: Sean Callahan20 hours agoSean_Callahan

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has parted ways with defensive coordinator John Butler.

A source confirmed the news to HuskerOnline on Monday, and an official announcement is expected later in the day.

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Butler is relieved of his duties after just one season as NU’s defensive coordinator.

“I informed John Butler earlier today that he will not be retained as defensive coordinator effective immediately,” Rhule said in a statement. “We thank John for his contributions to our football program over the past two seasons and wish him the best moving forward in his coaching career. Phil Snow will serve as the interim defensive coordinator for our upcoming bowl game. We will work toward naming a new defensive coordinator for the 2026 season in the coming weeks.”

It was a season in which Nebraska’s defense played well at times, but losses to Penn State (37-10) and Iowa (40-16) to end the regular season left a stain, and now the 52-year-old Philadelphia native is out.

Nebraska will soon begin bowl preparations with a record of 7-5 overall after finishing 4-5 in the Big Ten.

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Nebraska’s run defense problematic under Butler

After this past weekend’s games, Nebraska ranked 22nd nationally in total defense and 53rd in scoring defense, allowing 312.3 yards and 23.0 points per game. But the Huskers’ run defense was problematic all season, as they allowed 4.80 yards per rush during the regular season to rank 114th nationally.

“I think that’s the No. 1 thing for us right now, controlling the line of scrimmage,” Rhule said Friday after the loss to Iowa.

Nebraska’s defense looked overmatched in the November 22 loss at Penn State, in which the Nittany Lions rushed 39 times for 231 yards (5.9 ypc). Butler said the Huskers tried a lot of things schematically to stop the run, but to no avail.

With so much attention placed toward slowing Penn State’s run game, Nittany Lions freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was 11-for-12 passing for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Then came the Iowa loss.

Although the Hawkeyes entered the game ranked 120th nationally in total offense, they easily exceeded their average of 309.4 yards per game with a 379-yard effort. It was only the third time Kirk Ferentz’s crew scored 40 points all season.

Iowa ran for 213 yards on 4.6 yards per carry while quarterback Mark Gronowski was 9-for-16 passing for 166 yards and a touchdown, at times making it look easy.

Butler inherited challenging situation

Butler inherited a challenging situation as Nebraska entered the 2025 season with ample youth in the defensive trenches. That proved to be a problem all season even as the Huskers’ pass defense remained relatively strong throughout most of the schedule.

Michigan hammered Nebraska to the tune of 286 rushing yards, Minnesota gained 186, Northwestern 172, and USC 202.

Butler is in his second year at Nebraska after serving as the Huskers’ secondary coach and pass game coordinator during the 2024 regular season before being promoted to defensive coordinator for the Pinstripe Bowl.

He succeeded Tony White, who left for the same job at Florida State.

Butler is in his 31st season of coaching, and his experience includes 21 years in college football and 10 seasons in the National Football League. In his first season at Nebraska in 2024, Butler’s secondary helped the Huskers rank in the top 20 nationally in total defense and scoring defense.

Butler’s collegiate resume features four stops at power conference schools with experience in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. He has been the defensive coordinator at both Nebraska and Penn State.

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