Unbelievable: The Bills’ former head coach has announced his return to the team
Jim Salgado, a former Buffalo Bills safety coach, was hired as the cornerbacks coach, Michigan State football head coach Mel Tucker announced Thursday evening, following another disappointing season of secondary play.
In a statement, Tucker said, “Jim Salgado is an excellent, experienced football coach.” “I’m incredibly impressed by his football acumen. Leslie Frazier, one of my mentors, highly recommends him. The two of them coached some of the best defenses in the NFL at Buffalo (ranked No. 2 in team defense in 2018, No. 3 in 2019, No. 1 in 2021, No. 6 in 2022).
Jim has also served as a college coordinator, where he had a significant impact and led Princeton to two league titles.
He can recruit across the country and has excellent connections. I’m thrilled to see him collaborate with Harlon Barnett in the secondary because they have a terrific working relationship as well.
Salgado was the Bills’ safety coach for his first and only season, out of his six seasons with the team. He worked as a defensive assistant for the Nickels for three years prior to that. His defense routinely finished among the NFL’s best during his tenure in Buffalo. In addition, he managed cornerback Tre’Davious White and safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer to Pro Bowl seasons.
He spent 22 years coaching at the collegiate level before accepting a position with the Bills. Before going pro, he attended Princeton from 2010 to 2016. He started all three of his years as a player for Hofstra at cornerback.
The play of the defensive backs was one of the main concerns following the Spartans’ breakthrough 2021 season, and even though Tucker gave coaching them more priority, the previous season offered no satisfactory answers.
On the defensive back staff, Salgado will be joining Harlon Barnett, who is presently designated as the secondary coach. Pass rush specialist Brandon Jordan left to become a coach for the Seattle Seahawks, opening up an extra spot on the staff.
