Gerald Alexander, former Cal DB Coach, joins the Las Vegas Raiders staff.
Gerald Alexander, the beloved California Golden Bears defensive backs coach who oversaw the secondary’s comeback from 2017 to 2019, has secured a new NFL job.
This time, he joins another former Pac-12 assistant in the league.
According to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network, Alexander will shortly join the Las Vegas Raiders as their safeties coach. He’s about to join Antonio Pierce and the team he’s assembling in Sin City. That also means “G.A.” will be collaborating with a former Pac-12 assistant, as Alexander and Pierce both worked at Cal and Arizona State, respectively.
Alexander quickly became famous in Strawberry Canyon after joining the inaugural Justin Wilcox staff. Alexander quickly established himself as an effective staff member, transforming Berkeley into a defensive back destination while also enhancing a once-nationally ranked unit.
Alexander’s coaching contributed to Cal’s 21 interceptions in 2018, 17 of which came from his defensive backfield. “G.A.” would then produce future NFL Draft picks at Cal, including Ashtyn Davis (New York Jets), Jaylinn Hawkins (Atlanta Falcons), Cam Bynum (Minnesota Vikings), and Elijah Hicks (Chicago Bears).
Following the Bears’ 2019 RedBox Bowl victory, Alexander left Cal for the NFL. The Miami Dolphins provided Alexander with the opportunity to enter the NFL through former head coach Brian Flores.
Alexander most recently worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers and their Super Bowl-winning coach, Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh would finish seventh in the AFC playoffs before falling to the Buffalo Bills in the first round.
Pierce reportedly hired two people, including the former Cal DB coach. He also hired Ricky Manning, a former NFL cornerback, as the Raiders’ CB coach. Manning, like Alexander, played collegiate ball at Fresno City collegiate and Fresno State before entering the league. He was recently with the Jets, alongside Davis.
