Dave Huxtable was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as a senior defensive assistant on Feb. 27, 2023.

In 2024, Huxtable assisted in the development of Atlanta's outside linebackers. Under his guidance, Atlanta totaled 31 total sacks and 71 quarterback hits on 184 pressures. Atlanta's defense had the longest active streak in the NFL of recording three-or-more sacks in a game, having hit the mark in each of the Falcons last four matchups from Weeks 13-16. Under Smith's leadership, outside linebackers Arnold Ebiketie recorded the fifth-most sacks in the NFL over the final six weeks of the season, totaling five sacks in Weeks 13-18. Ebikete matched his career-high in sacks from the 2023 season with six in addition to 12 quarterback hits.

In 2023, the Falcons defense finished third in third down defense and fourth in red zone efficiency. David Onyemata registered a career high in tackles (50), passes defensed (three) and forced fumbles (two), while Calais Campbell finished with 6.5 sacks and became one of six active players to reach 100 career sacks. Third-round rookie defensive lineman Zach Harrison recorded three sacks in the month of December, tied for the third most among rookies. Additionally, Harrison's 17.6 percent pressure rate was the second highest among rookies from Weeks 13-17 in 2023.

Atlanta's defense tallied 42 sacks, tied for the sixth-most sacks in a single season in franchise history. The Falcons defense doubled its sack total from 2022 (21) resulting in the largest year-over-year increase by the Falcons since the individual sack became an NFL statistic in 1982.

Prior to Atlanta, Huxtable had 40 seasons of coaching experience at the collegiate level – including 18 seasons as a defensive coordinator. He spent two seasons (2021-22) as an analyst for the University of Alabama from 2021-22. Before joining the Crimson Tide's staff, Huxtable spent one season (2020) as an analyst for the University of Texas after spending seven seasons (2013-19) as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State University.

In 2018, N.C. State ranked second in the ACC and 13th in the nation in rushing defense (109.1 yards per game). Additionally, linebacker Germaine Pratt earned first-team All-ACC honors after averaging more than nine tackles per game. In 2017, the Wolfpack ranked third in the conference in rushing yards per game, limiting opponents to 131 yards per game on the ground. Under Huxtable's tutelage, four Wolfpack defenders were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, including the fifth-overall selection, Bradley Chubb. In 2016, NC State ranked eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game, limiting opponents to 108.6 yards per game – the fifth fewest in a season in program history.

Prior to his time at NC State, Huxtable spent one season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh where his Panthers defense ranked 16th in the nation in total defense (325.8 yards per game), 21st in scoring defense (19.7 points per game), 24th in rushing defense (129.1 yards per game) and 25th in passing defense (196.8). Defensive lineman Aaron Donald earned first-team All-Big East honors after leading the conference and ranking 11th nationally with 18.5 tackles for loss, while safety Jason Hendricks was a second-team selection after leading the Big East and tying for ninth nationally with five interceptions.

In 2011, Huxtable oversaw the development of first-team All-Big Ten linebackers Chris Borland and Mike Taylor. The pair led the Badgers to a Big Ten Championship and a Rose Bowl berth. Huxtable came to Wisconsin after spending seven seasons (2004-10) at the University of Central Florida where he spent four seasons (2004-07) coaching linebackers and special teams, and three seasons (2008-10) as the Knights' defensive coordinator. In his final season at UCF, the Knights ranked eighth in the nation in scoring defense (17.1 points per game), eighth in rushing defense (108.4) and 15th in total defense (315.4). Defensive end Bruce Miller was a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career as UCF's career sacks leader with 35.5.

Huxtable spent three seasons (2001-03) at the University of North Carolina, coaching linebackers and special teams in 2001, before being named defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2002-03. Under Huxtable, David Thornton, a former walk-on, earned All-ACC honors and was selected in the NFL Draft.

Prior to his time at North Carolina, Huxtable spent one season (2000) at Oklahoma State as a linebackers coach/special teams coordinator and two seasons (1998-99) at East Carolina where he coached linebackers in 1998 and defensive line in 1999. Huxtable spent six seasons (1992-97) at Georgia Tech coaching linebackers. In 1996, Huxtable would earn defensive coordinator duties as well. During his time with the Yellow Jackets, Huxtable oversaw the development of Keith Brooking, who finished as the school's career tackles leader with 467 and was selected with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Falcons.

Huxtable began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 1982. From Ames, he would spend two seasons (1983-84) as the defensive coordinator at Independence (Kan.) CC, five seasons (1985-89) at Western Kentucky and two seasons (1990-91) at East Carolina where he coached Robert Jones, who earned consensus All-America honors, was selected in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft and won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

Huxtable earned a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Illinois in 1979. A native of Elgin, Ill., he and his wife, Vicki, have one son, Jake, and one daughter, Shea.