Biography

Glenn Pires is a 16-year veteran of the NFL coaching fraternity and the 2011 season marks his fourth year mentoring the Falcons linebackers.

Last year, Pires continued to guide the young core of linebackers, Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon and Stephen Nicholas. Pires also had 12-year NFL veteran Mike Peterson to help lead the way on the field. For the second year in a row, Lofton led the team in tackles (142) while addding three forced fumbles, three passes defensed, two sacks and one interception in his third season. Under the tutelage of Pires, the rookie out of Missouri, Weatherspoon, tallied 50 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed despite missing five games due to injury. The 19th overall pick in 2010 will continue to look at Pires for guidance as he enters his second season and looks to build off of his rookie campaign.

The veteran of the linebacker corps is Peterson. For the second consecutive season, Pires assisted in Peterson being a difference maker on defense. Peterson’s 79 tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one forced fumble was a demonstration of the consistency that Pires looks for from his group of players. Through the coaching of Pires, the linebackers helped the Falcons defense rank 10th in the NFL for the second straight season in rushing defense (105.9 yards per game).

In 2009, Pires’ ardent work with middle linebacker Curtis Lofton continued to yield big dividends as Lofton led the team for the first time in his career in tackles while finishing tied for sixth in the entire League with a career-high 160 stops. Lofton’s 160 tackles were the most in a single-season by a Falcon since 2006 and the former Oklahoma product tallied nine games with double-digit stops. Pires was also responsible for coaching two new starters in ’09 in free agent signee Mike Peterson and 2007 draft pick Stephen Nicholas. Under Pires’ direction, Peterson ended up with over 100 tackles for the ninth time in his career and Nicholas finished with a career-best 92 stops.

The solid linebacker play in ’09 through Pires’ help allowed the Falcons defense to finish 10th in the NFL against the rush (106.8 yards per contest) and surrender just one 100-yard rusher. The birds defense also enjoyed a productive streak of 10 consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown.

In his first season in 2008, Pires’ relentless work with Lofton enabled the first-year player to earn All-Rookie honors from Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly as he finished with the second most tackles by any rookie with 108.

Prior to landing in Atlanta, Pries worked five seasons (2003-07) with the Miami Dolphins and coached such players as Pro Bowlers Zach Thomas and Joey Porter along with the talented Channing Crowder.

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, Pires 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

• 2008-2011 -- 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