Ray Hamilton

Biography

Ray Hamilton enters his second season as Defensive Line Coach for the Atlanta Falcons, after spending five seasons (2003-07) in the same position with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hamilton worked closely with Head Coach Mike Smith who served as Defensive Coordinator for Jacksonville from 2003-07. Hamilton is a longtime NFL coaching veteran who is entering his 23rd year in the coaching ranks in addition to his nine seasons as a player.

Last year, Hamilton’s work with DE John Abraham enabled Abraham to tally a franchise record and career-best 16.5 sacks. Abraham also led all Falcons defensive linemen with 42 tackles in addition to four forced fumbles and one pass defensed. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux emerged as a force in the interior of the defensive front in ’08 with Hamilton’s assistance. Babineaux collared a career-high 3.5 sacks and ranked fourth in the NFL in tackles for loss (9.5) according to STATS, Inc. Under the tutelage of Hamilton, the defensive line recorded 31 of the team’s 34 sacks.

The Jaguars defense ranked fourth in the NFL from 2003-2007 in yards per game (300.1) and fourth in scoring defense (18.2). The defensive line also posted 180 sacks in that same time frame led by Pro Bowlers Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.

During the 2007 campaign, Jacksonville’s defense ranked sixth in the AFC in points allowed per game (19.0) while ranking fifth in the conference in rushing defense (100.3). The Jaguars also held opponents to 17 points or less in 10 of 16 games, which tied for the most in the NFL with three other teams.

In 2006, Hamilton guided defensive end Bobby McCray who developed into one of the AFC’s top pass rushers as he led Jacksonville with a career-high 10 sacks. The defensive line combined for 29.5 sacks, ranking fourth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game.

Prior to joining Jacksonville, Hamilton spent two seasons as the Defensive Line Coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2001-02. In his first season with Cleveland, the Browns tied for fourth in the AFC with 43 sacks. For three seasons, Hamilton served as New England’s Defensive Line Coach from 1997-99 and joined the New York Jets staff in 2000. His 1998 defensive line tallied 25 of the team’s 36 sacks, the seventh-best total in the NFL.

In 1995, Hamilton joined the Jets in his first stint with the team as the Defensive Line Coach. He guided defensive end Hugh Douglas, who was named the 1995 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. From 1993-94, Hamilton was a member of the Los Angeles Raiders where he developed Chester McGlockton and a defensive line that combined for 83 sacks in his two seasons with the Silver & Black.

Hamilton spent his only season in the collegiate ranks with the University of Tennessee in 1992 as the Defensive Line Coach, following stints as the Defensive Line Coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1991) and the Head Coach of the Bay State Titans (1990), a semi-pro team that featured defensive tackle Eric Swann, the sixth overall choice in the 1991 NFL Draft.

Hamilton began his coaching career in 1985, spending five seasons as an Assistant Defensive Line Coach with the New England Patriots. He helped the Patriots reach their first AFC Championship title and a Super Bowl XX appearance

A 14th-round draft choice by the Patriots, Hamilton was a fixture on the New England defensive line from 1973-81 while establishing rookie records with seven sacks. “Sugar Bear” went on to start a team record 110 consecutive games and currently ranks fifth on the Patriots’ all-time sack list with 54.

Hamilton was born on January 20, 1951 in Omaha, NE. He graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in business and was named all-conference as a defensive tackle as a junior and senior. Hamilton received a master’s degree in public administration in 1977 from Suffolk University while playing for the Patriots.

Hamilton and his wife, Phyllis, have two sons, Kadar, and Damon.

Ray Hamilton’s Coaching Background
 

• 2008-2008 -- Defensive Line // Falcons
• 2003-2007 -- Defensive Line // Jaguars
• 2001-2002 -- Defensive Line // Browns
• 2000 -- Defensive Line // Jets
• 1997-1999 -- Defensive Line // Patriots
• 1995-1996 -- Defensive Line // Jets
• 1993-1994 -- Defensive Line // Raiders
• 1992 -- Defensive Line // Univ. of Tennessee
• 1991 -- Defensive Line // Buccaneers
• 1990 -- Head Coach // Bay State Titans
• 1985-89 -- Assistant Defensive Line // Patriots