Why was Nebraska's defensive coordinator John Butler fired?

John Butler was fired due to the Cornhuskers' significant struggles in stopping the run and overall poor defensive performance throughout the season.

Who is the new interim defensive coordinator for Nebraska?

Phil Snow, Nebraska's associate head coach, has been named interim defensive coordinator for the Cornhuskers' bowl game.

How bad was Nebraska's red-zone defense?

Nebraska ranked second-to-last nationally in red-zone defense, allowing opponents to score points on 30 of 31 trips inside the 20-yard line.

Home / Sports / Nebraska Football Fires Defensive Coordinator After Struggles

Nebraska Football Fires Defensive Coordinator After Struggles

1 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Defensive coordinator John Butler was fired Monday after Nebraska's poor run defense.
The Cornhuskers struggled significantly in red-zone defense throughout the season.
Phil Snow will serve as interim defensive coordinator for the upcoming bowl game.

Nebraska Football Fires Defensive Coordinator After Struggles

Nebraska's first-year defensive coordinator John Butler has been dismissed following a disappointing season for the Cornhuskers' defense. The team's struggles to contain opponents' rushing attacks and a general lack of defensive impact led to the decision, announced Monday by head coach Matt Rhule.

Butler's departure comes after the Cornhuskers lost four of their last six games, with their defense allowing an average of 171.3 rushing yards per game. Notably, Nebraska ranked poorly in red-zone defense, conceding points on 96.8% of opponent trips inside the 20-yard line.

Associate head coach Phil Snow has been appointed interim defensive coordinator for Nebraska's upcoming bowl game. Coach Rhule indicated plans to hire a permanent replacement for Butler in the coming weeks, aiming to bolster the defense for future seasons.