Glenn Pires

Biography

Glenn Pires enters his 14th season in the NFL and his second as the Falcons Linebackers Coach. He spent five seasons (2003-07) with the Miami Dolphins staff and coached the likes of Pro Bowlers Zach Thomas and Joey Porter along with four-year veteran Channing Crowder.

In his first season at the helm of the Falcons linebacker corps, Pires assisted rookie middle linebacker Curtis Lofton in getting acclimated to the NFL. Lofton, the second round pick (37th overall) out of Oklahoma, was one of four Falcons to post over 100 tackles (108). His 108 stops ranked second among all first year players according to STATS, Inc. Pire’s leadership enabled Lofton to earn All-Rookie honors from Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly. Pires also received contributions from Coy Wire and Stephen Nicholas in his first season with the Falcons. Wire started four games at outside linebacker and logged 24 tackles and one pass defensed. Nicholas posted nine tackles, two passes defensed and one sack in 16 games and will be asked to take on a bigger role in the defense in 2009. Recently acquired LB Mike Peterson will add a veteran presence to the Falcons linebacking corps this season. Peterson has logged 1,365 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles in his 10-year career.

Pires started his tenure with the Dolphins as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach from 2003-04 and coached Pro Bowl defensive ends Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye. Before joining the Dolphins, he spent each of the previous two years (2001-02) as Linebackers Coach with the Detroit Lions. He got his start in the NFL coaching ranks tutoring the linebackers with the Arizona Cardinals in 1996 while spending the next five seasons at that post.

A four-year letterman as on offensive lineman at Springfield College (Massachusetts), Pires earned his bachelor’s degree in education from the school in 1980. He started his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at Melrose High School (Massachusetts). In 1983, he spent two seasons as a Graduate Assistant for Syracuse University before moving on to Dartmouth College where he served as the Defensive Line/Linebackers Coach from 1985-88. Pires returned to Syracuse in 1989 and coached the Orange Defensive line for two seasons before handling outside linebackers from 1991-94. His last stop in the collegiate ranks came at Michigan State University where he coached Outside Linebackers and handled recruiting duties in 1995.

A native of New Bedford, Mass., Pires and his wife, Lynn, have one daughter, Jackie and one son, Michael.

Glenn Pires’ Coaching Background

• 2008 -- Linebackers Coach // Atlanta Falcons
• 2007 -- Assistant Linebackers Coach // Miami Dolphins
• 2005-2006 -- Defensive Quality Control // Miami Dolphins
• 2003-2004 -- Assistant Defensive Line Coach // Miami Dolphins
• 2001-2002 -- Linebackers Coach // Detroit Lions
• 1996-2000 -- Linebackers Coach // Arizona Cardinals
• 1995 -- Outside Linebackers Coach // Michigan State University
• 1991-1994 -- Outside Linebackers Coach // Syracuse University
• 1989-1990 -- Defensive Line Coach // Syracuse University
• 1985-1988 -- Defensive Line/Linebackers Coach // Dartmouth College
• 1983-1984 -- Graduate Assistant // Syracuse University