Defensive coordinator

Defensive Coordinator Richard Smith at the Atlanta Falcons training camp in August 2015

The defensive coordinator is part of the coaching staff of an American football team. Together with the offensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator , he is at the second highest level in the pecking order of a football team. Only the head coach is still above the three. He is responsible for the entire defense and his main task is to coordinate his assistant coaches, who in turn are responsible for individual positions (e.g. linebackers , cornerbacks, etc.).