Jim O'Neil was named Northwestern's defensive coordinator in February of 2021.
O’Neil joins the Wildcats after spending three seasons with the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders, including the previous two as the defensive backs coach. Prior to his time with the Raiders, O’Neil served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). He brings over 10 years of NFL coaching experience with him to Evanston, having also held roles with the New York Jets (2009-12) and Buffalo Bills (2013) before becoming the DC in Cleveland.
Before his time in the NFL, O’Neil spent eight years on the college level, including two seasons at Northwestern (2003-04) where he worked as a defensive graduate assistant alongside Fitzgerald under Randy Walker. He led the safeties and served as the recruiting coordinator at Eastern Michigan from 2006-08 with current Northwestern special teams coordinator Jeff Genyk after being the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for his alma mater, Towson, in 2005. Additionally, he was a member of Penn’s staff in 2002 as the assistant offensive line coach and SUNY-Albany in 2001 as the assistant offensive line/tight ends coach.
During his first year leading the Raiders defensive backs, O’Neil’s unit recorded nine interceptions with two returned for scores, marking the Silver and Black's first multi-interception touchdown season since recording two in 2010. Under O'Neil's guidance, safety Erik Harris recorded the best season of his career while leading the unit in tackles in 2019. Harris set career highs in tackles (68), interceptions (three), defensive touchdowns (two) and passes defensed (nine). O'Neil also developed second-round standout CB Trayvon Mullen. Mullen led the club with 10 passes defensed last season, which marked the most tallied by a Raider rookie since CB Charles Woodson recorded 22 in 1998. In 2018, O'Neil worked closely with the secondary, helping the unit record 14 interceptions after recording just five the previous year. The Raiders also saw a 21-place improvement in passes defensed, finishing the year tied for ninth in the NFL with 73 after finishing tied for 30th in 2017.
In 2016 as the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, he helped the 49ers defense improve in passing yards allowed per game, sacks and forced turnovers. The 49ers improved 13 spots from 2015 to finish 14th in the NFL in passing defense, allowing just 240.5 passing yards per game. They totaled 33 sacks to finish tied for 19th in the league, a 10-spot improvement from the prior season. His unit also saw an 11-spot improvement in takeaways, finishing tied for 19th with 20 under his guidance.
During his time with the 49ers, O'Neil tutored rookie DE DeForest Buckner as he tied for the team high with six sacks, adding 73 tackles and two fumbles recovered en route to earning a spot on the PFWA's All-Rookie Team.
Prior to joining the 49ers, O'Neil spent two seasons (2014-15) with the Browns in the same capacity. O'Neil led a unit that ranked sixth in the NFL in opposing quarterback completion percentage (59.6) and tied for seventh in interceptions (32) during his tenure. Under his guidance, S Tashaun Gipson, CB Joe Haden and S Donte Whitner earned Pro Bowl honors in 2014.
During his first season as defensive coordinator in 2014, O'Neil directed a Browns defense that made significant strides from 2013. Cleveland allowed 69 fewer points and ranked ninth in scoring defense (21.1 points per game). The Browns led the NFL with the lowest opponent passer rating (74.1) and completion percentage (33.3), while also finishing second in interceptions (21), tied for fourth in takeaways (29) and fifth in red zone defense (46.3).
A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, O’Neil was a three-year starter as a defensive lineman at Towson, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management. He holds master’s degrees from SUNY-Albany and Northwestern. O’Neil and his wife, Stacy, have two sons, Danny and Kellan, and a daughter, Riley.
O’Neil joins the Wildcats after spending three seasons with the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders, including the previous two as the defensive backs coach. Prior to his time with the Raiders, O’Neil served as the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016). He brings over 10 years of NFL coaching experience with him to Evanston, having also held roles with the New York Jets (2009-12) and Buffalo Bills (2013) before becoming the DC in Cleveland.
Before his time in the NFL, O’Neil spent eight years on the college level, including two seasons at Northwestern (2003-04) where he worked as a defensive graduate assistant alongside Fitzgerald under Randy Walker. He led the safeties and served as the recruiting coordinator at Eastern Michigan from 2006-08 with current Northwestern special teams coordinator Jeff Genyk after being the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for his alma mater, Towson, in 2005. Additionally, he was a member of Penn’s staff in 2002 as the assistant offensive line coach and SUNY-Albany in 2001 as the assistant offensive line/tight ends coach.
During his first year leading the Raiders defensive backs, O’Neil’s unit recorded nine interceptions with two returned for scores, marking the Silver and Black's first multi-interception touchdown season since recording two in 2010. Under O'Neil's guidance, safety Erik Harris recorded the best season of his career while leading the unit in tackles in 2019. Harris set career highs in tackles (68), interceptions (three), defensive touchdowns (two) and passes defensed (nine). O'Neil also developed second-round standout CB Trayvon Mullen. Mullen led the club with 10 passes defensed last season, which marked the most tallied by a Raider rookie since CB Charles Woodson recorded 22 in 1998. In 2018, O'Neil worked closely with the secondary, helping the unit record 14 interceptions after recording just five the previous year. The Raiders also saw a 21-place improvement in passes defensed, finishing the year tied for ninth in the NFL with 73 after finishing tied for 30th in 2017.
In 2016 as the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, he helped the 49ers defense improve in passing yards allowed per game, sacks and forced turnovers. The 49ers improved 13 spots from 2015 to finish 14th in the NFL in passing defense, allowing just 240.5 passing yards per game. They totaled 33 sacks to finish tied for 19th in the league, a 10-spot improvement from the prior season. His unit also saw an 11-spot improvement in takeaways, finishing tied for 19th with 20 under his guidance.
During his time with the 49ers, O'Neil tutored rookie DE DeForest Buckner as he tied for the team high with six sacks, adding 73 tackles and two fumbles recovered en route to earning a spot on the PFWA's All-Rookie Team.
Prior to joining the 49ers, O'Neil spent two seasons (2014-15) with the Browns in the same capacity. O'Neil led a unit that ranked sixth in the NFL in opposing quarterback completion percentage (59.6) and tied for seventh in interceptions (32) during his tenure. Under his guidance, S Tashaun Gipson, CB Joe Haden and S Donte Whitner earned Pro Bowl honors in 2014.
During his first season as defensive coordinator in 2014, O'Neil directed a Browns defense that made significant strides from 2013. Cleveland allowed 69 fewer points and ranked ninth in scoring defense (21.1 points per game). The Browns led the NFL with the lowest opponent passer rating (74.1) and completion percentage (33.3), while also finishing second in interceptions (21), tied for fourth in takeaways (29) and fifth in red zone defense (46.3).
A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, O’Neil was a three-year starter as a defensive lineman at Towson, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management. He holds master’s degrees from SUNY-Albany and Northwestern. O’Neil and his wife, Stacy, have two sons, Danny and Kellan, and a daughter, Riley.