Joe Danna

Joe Danna is an American football coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He has served as the safeties coach for the Bills since 2023.

Joe Danna

Buffalo Bills
Position:	Safeties coach
Personal information
Born:	(1977-04-03) April 3, 1977 (age 47) Midland, Michigan, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Midland (MI)
College:	Central Michigan
Career history
As a coach:
Central Michigan (1999–2000) Student assistant Georgia (2001) Graduate assistant Central Michigan (2002) Wide receivers coach Central Michigan (2003–2004) Secondary coach Central Michigan (2005) Wide receivers coach Georgia Southern (2006) Defensive backs coach James Madison (2007) Defensive backs coach Atlanta Falcons (2008–2009) Defensive quality control coach Miami Dolphins (2010–2011) Assistant secondary coach Atlanta Falcons (2012–2014) Defensive backs coach New York Jets (2015–2016) Defensive backs coach Jacksonville Jaguars (2017–2018) Assistant defensive backs coach Jacksonville Jaguars (2019–2020) Defensive backs coach Jacksonville Jaguars (2021) Nickels coach Houston Texans (2022) Safeties coach Buffalo Bills (2023–present) Safeties coach

Career

Danna, who played wide receiver for Central Michigan University (CMU) from 1995 to 1998, began his coaching career at his alma mater as a graduate assistant after earning a bachelor of science in elementary education. He returned to CMU for a four-year coaching stint from 2002 to 2005. He served on collegiate coaching staffs at the University of Georgia (2001), Georgia Southern University (2006), James Madison University (2007).^[1][2]

In 2008, Danna joined the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, serving as a defensive assistant for head coach Mike Smith.^[3] He served as the assistant secondary coach for head coach Tony Sparano for the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Danna returned to coach Smith's staff in 2012 with the Falcons and served as the defensive backs coach for three years.^[4] In 2015, Danna was hired by Todd Bowles of the New York Jets to serve as the defensive backs coach.^[5] He was hired by Doug Marrone to be assistant defensive backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017.^[6] He was promoted to safeties coach in 2019 and served in the position through 2020. For the 2021 season, Danna was retained by new head coach Urban Meyer as the nickels coach.^[7] In 2022, Danna was hired by Lovie Smith to serve as the safeties coach for the Houston Texans.^[8][9]

On February 2, 2023, Danna was hired to serve as safeties coach for the Buffalo Bills.^[10]

References

1. Chastain, Austin (December 14, 2020). "Midland native, Jaguars' coach Danna getting through challenging season". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
2. Kubena, Brooks (February 16, 2022). "Texans hiring former Jaguars assistant Joe Danna as safeties coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
3. Chalk, Dan (February 5, 2008). "Midland's Danna hired as coach with Falcons". Midland Daily News. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
4. "Falcons hire Danna to coach secondary, make Thomas QB coach". NFL.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
5. Gantt, Darin (January 15, 2015). "Todd Bowles finds some help on Falcons staff". ProFootballTalk. NBC Sports.
6. Johnson, Jay (February 2, 2017). "Jaguars coaching staff finalized". Jags Wire. USA Today.
7. Shipley, John (February 11, 2021). "Jaguars Officially Announce Urban Meyer's Coaching Staff: Bevell, Cullen, and Schneider Named Coordinators". Sports Illustrated.
8. Lane, Mark (February 16, 2022). "Texans hire Jaguars assistant Joe Danna to coach safeties". Texans Wire. USA Today.
9. "Safeties coach Joe Danna on getting M.J. Stewart more involved defensively". Texans Wire. December 9, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
10. Dimmit, Zach (February 2, 2023). "Bills Hire New Safeties Coach Joe Danna - Here's His Résumé". Sports Illustrated.