William & Mary Athletics

The following lists and links are intended to provide Tribe football fans with information on W&M alumni and former coaches who are currently playing, coaching or working within the ranks of professional football. This page is a work in progress, please check back frequently for updates. Please direct omissions via email to rrturn@wm.edu.

As of Aug. 1, 2025

Coaches

Mike Tomlin ('95) - Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
Tomlin's Steelers Bio

Headlining the list of professional coaches and players with ties to William & Mary is 1995 graduate Mike Tomlin, head coach of the 2009 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tomlin, who was named the 16th head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 22, 2007, is the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Tomlin was also named Motorola Coach of the Year for the 2008 season.

Tomlin, who was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at receiver for the Tribe, is just the third Steelers Head Coach since the 1969 season.

Prior to Tomlin, the last W&M alum to lead an NFL team was Dan Henning, who had two head coaching stints, one with the Atlanta Falcons (1983-1986) and another with the San Diego Chargers (1989-91).

Tomlin was named the head coach in Pittsburgh after spending the 2006 season as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. The position was both his first with the team and as a coordinator, but showed immediate results as he oversaw a unit that ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense.

Sean McDermott ('98) - Buffalo Bills Head Coach
McDermott's Bills Bio

McDermott joined his former W&M teammate Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) in the NFL head coaching ranks when he was hired by the Buffalo Bills in 2017 after serving a six-year stint as one of the league's premier defensive coordinators with the Carolina Panthers. During his first season in Buffalo, McDermott led the Bills to the franchise's first playoff appearance since 1999.
 
Highlighting his tenure in Carolina was the memorable 2015 season in which the Panthers posted a 15-1 regular season record en route to a Super Bowl 50 appearance. His impressive résumé in Carolina also included being named The Sporting News Coordinator of the Year in 2013.
 
A fierce competitor, McDermott was a four-year letterwinner for the Tribe who finished his career with 322 tackles in 26 career starts. He graduated from W&M in 1998 with a degree in business finance. After coming to W&M as a walk-on prior to the 1993 season, McDermott quickly proved his value and eventually became a three-year starter for the Tribe at the free safety position.
 
One of the squad's strongest leaders, McDermott was elected as a team captain for his senior year (1997). That season saw him earn both All-Atlantic 10 and All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) honors. He also was named to the Atlantic 10's All-Academic squad.


Joe Brady ('13) - Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Brady's Buffalo Bio

Brent Caprio ('14) - Washington Commanders Pro Scout
Caprio's Washington Bio

Andrew Caskin ('18) - Arizona Cardinals Pro Scout
Caskin's Cardinals Bio

Tyler Claytor ('16) - Washington Commanders Scout
Claytor's Washington Bio

Michael "Pinball" Clemons ('87) - Toronto Argonauts (CFL) General Manager
Clemons' Argos Bio

Brian Daboll (Former Assistant Coach, 1997) - New York Giants Head Coach
Daboll's Giants Bio

Brendan Nugent (Former Assistant Coach, 2007-11) - New Orleans Saints Offensive Line Coach
Nugent's Saints Bio

DJ Mangas ('12) - Buffalo Bills Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Mangas' Bills Bio

Ted Monago (Former Assistant Coach, 1998-00) - Los Angeles Rams Senior Personnel Executive

Christian Parker (Former Assistant Coach, 2017) - Philadelphia Eagles Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
Parker's Eagles Bio

Mike Potts ('08) - Cincinnati Bengals Scouting Director

Dan Quinn (Former Assistant Coach, 1994) - Washington Commanders Head Coach
Quinn's Commanders' Bio

Danny Smith (Former Assistant Coach, 1980-83) - Pittsburgh Steelers Special Teams Coordinator
Smith's Steelers Bio

Ryan Smith ('13) - Arizona Cardinals Cornerbacks Coach
Smith's Cardinals Bio

Christian Taylor ('07) - Buffalo Bills Defensive Assistant / Offensive Advisor
Taylor's Bills Bio

Players

DeVonte Dedmon ('19) - Ottawa Redblacks (CFL)
Dedmon's Redblacks Bio

Charles Grant ('24) - Las Vegas Raiders
Grant's Raiders Bio

Nate Lynn ('23) - Detroit Lions
Lynn's Lions Bio

Bill Murray ('20) - Chicago Bears
Murray's Bears Bio

Luke Rhodes ('16) - Indianapolis Colts
Rhodes' Colts Bio

Colby Sorsdal ('22) - Detroit Lions
Sorsdal's Lions Bio

Owen Wright ('21) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wright's Buccaneers Bio