George Edwards returns to coach the Dallas Cowboys as the team's senior defensive assistant in 2020 under new head coach Mike McCarthy. The 2020 season marks Edwards' 23rd season in the NFL and 31st season as a coach, all spent on the defensive side of the ball. Edwards spent six seasons (2014-19) as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, and it was his third stop coordinating a defense, following stints in Washington (2003) and Buffalo (2010-11).
Under Edwards in 2019, the Vikings defense collared 48.0 sacks to tie for fifth in the NFL - tied for seventh in a single season in team history. The defense was led by Danielle Hunter's career-high tying 14.5. Overall, it was the second-most sacks collected by a Vikings defense under Edwards' tenure as the defensive coordinator, topped only by the 2018 defense the previous season that had 50.0 sacks. Edwards' unit also produced 31 total takeaways (17 interceptions; 14 fumble recoveries) - good for fourth in the NFL, (second in the NFC). Minnesota's 17 interceptions tied for third in the NFL (tied for first in the NFC), with Anthony Harris registering a career-high six picks to tie for the NFL lead. For their performances, four players from Edwards' defense were selected to the Pro Bowl in Everson Griffen, Hunter, Eric Kendricks and Harrison Smith.
Edwards oversaw the rise of the Vikings defense to a consistent top-five NFL finish after inheriting a group that was 31st in total defense in 2013. In 2018 the Vikings ended the season fourth in total defense, posted 50.0 sacks, led the NFL in third down defense, allowing only 30.5% conversions and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (15) of any NFL defense, boasting three defenders with Pro Bowl honors. Led by first-team AP All-Pro Smith, first-team AP All-Pro Xavier Rhodes and second-team AP All-Pro Griffen, the Vikings ranked first in the NFL in defense for the first time since 1993. The stout defense was tops in the NFL in both yards allowed (275.9) and points allowed (15.8) and keyed the club's run to a 13-3 regular season, the NFC North title and a berth in the NFC Championship game.
In 2016 the Vikings climbed to third in the NFL in total defense, the highest ranking since 1993, and ranked fifth in scoring defense, allowing 18.7 points-per-game, tied for fourth in the NFL with 41.0 sacks and tied for seventh in the NFL with 27 takeaways.
In 2015 a stingy Vikings defense jumped to fifth in the NFL in points allowed at 18.9 after ranking 11th in 2014. Inheriting the defense that allowed the most points-per-game and second-most yards-per-game in 2013, Edwards helped turn the Vikings defense around in 2014, his first season as defensive coordinator. The Vikings had the NFL's most-improved defense in 2014, allowing 7.1 fewer offensive points-per-game in 2014 than in 2013.
Edwards returned to Miami for his second stint as linebackers coach for the 2012 and 2013 seasons where the Dolphins rush defense ranked 13th in the NFL in 2012.
He served as defensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills in 2010 and 2011, and from 2005-09, he was the linebackers coach for the Dolphins. Edwards spent the 2004 season as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach, and before that, was with Washington for two seasons as the Redskins assistant defensive coordinator/linebackers coach in 2002 before being named defensive coordinator for the first time in his career in 2003.
Edwards entered the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and remained there from 1998-2001. Serving as the linebackers coach, Edwards worked under Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer (2000-01). Under Edwards' guidance, Dexter Coakley, a third round draft choice in 1997, was selected to the Pro Bowl twice over a four-year span (1999, 2001).
Before making the leap to the NFL ranks, Edwards held collegiate assistant posts at Florida (1990-91), Appalachian State (1992-95), Duke (1996) and Georgia (1997). During his lone season at Georgia, Edwards tutored a defensive line which included a pair of freshmen in Richard Seymour and Marcus Stroud, both selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
A four-year letterman at Duke University, Edwards was twice named special teams captain and an honorable mention All-ACC selection at linebacker in 1989.
A native of Siler City, N.C., Edwards and his wife, Jami, have a son, B.J.
