Kevin Sherrer is in his second season with the Giants and his first as the linebackers coach. In his debut season with the team in 2020, he coached the inside linebackers, a position he held the previous two years at the University of Tennessee, where he was also co-defensive coordinator in 2018 and special teams coordinator in 2019.
Sherrer coached at three Southeastern Conference schools – Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee – as well as South Alabama.
Last season, inside linebacker Blake Martinez started all 16 games, was one of the team's captains and led the Giants and was third in the NFL with 151 tackles (86 solo). Martinez also had 3.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, one interception, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Martinez posted double-digit tackles in eight games, including a season-high 14 (eight solo) against Washington on Oct. 18).
Martinez and the linebackers were among the primary reasons the Giants' defense ranked 12th in the NFL, allowing 349.3 yards-per-game. It was their best defensive finish since 2016, when they were 10th in the league by allowing 339.7 yards a game. The Giants' rushing defense ranked 10th, giving up 111.4 yards a game, also their best figures since 2016 (when they were tied for third at 88.6 rushing yards a game).
In 2019, the Tennessee defense on which Sherrer coached finished sixth in the nation's best collegiate conference, the Southeastern, allowing 334.5 yards a game, and seventh in scoring defense, giving up 21.7 points a game. The Volunteers were fourth in passing defense, surrendering 194.0 yards-per-game. Despite missing two games, inside linebacker Daniel Bituli led the team in both total (88) and solo (52 tackles) and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference second team.
In his role as special teams coordinator, Sherrer helped Tennessee finish second in the conference in field goals (23), field goal percentage (85.2), punt return average (15.7-yard average on 15 runbacks) and finished tied with Alabama with a league-best three punt return touchdowns.
That Vols team won its final six games, including a victory against Indiana in the Gator Bowl, to finish 8-5.
In Sherrer's first season at Tennessee in 2018, the Volunteers' defense was one of the most improved in college football, climbing 74 spots in the national run defense rankings with opponents rushing for nearly 100 yards less than in 2017 (154.5, down from 251 yards the previous year). The Vols also moved up 45 spots nationally in third-down defense with opponents converting just 39% percent of their third downs compared to 45.2% in 2017.
Bituli led the team with 79 tackles and fellow inside linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. was fourth with 51.
Sherrer was the University of Georgia's outside linebackers coach from 2014-17 and helped lead the Bulldogs to an SEC Championship and a spot in the National Championship Game in the 2017 season.
While in Athens, Sherrer coached three linebackers that were selected in the NFL Draft in Lorenzo Carter (the Giants' third-round choice in 2018), Leonard Floyd (2016) and Jordan Jenkins (2016). He also helped coach inside linebacker draft choices Roquan Smith (2018), Ramik Wilson (2015) and Amarlo Herrera (2015). Sherrer coached five players who have received All-SEC honors and two All-Americans, as Carter earned Freshman All-America honors in 2014 and Smith received consensus All-America honors in 2017.
The Bulldogs finished in the top 20 in total defense during all four of Sherrer's seasons and finished the season ranked in the top 16 in scoring defense three times. In 2017, Georgia's defense was tied for third in the country in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and second in pass defense.
Carter earned second-team All-SEC honors and was third on the team in tackles (61), fourth in sacks (4.5) and tied for third in tackles for loss (7.5), while leading the Bulldogs with three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Sherrer was the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at South Alabama in 2013, when the Jaguars ranked third in the nation with 3.17 sacks per game and 17th with 7.25 tackles for loss per game. South Alabama had three defensive players earn All-Sun Belt honors on defense in defensive linemen Romelle Jones and Alex Page and linebacker Enrique Williams.
Sherrer's first full-time job in college football was as the director of player development for Alabama from 2010-12. His responsibilities included assisting Crimson Tide student-athletes with academics, community outreach and their personal lives. During his tenure, Bama posted a 35-5 overall record while winning back-to-back BCS national titles in 2011 and 2012.
Prior to becoming a college coach, Sherrer was an accomplished high school assistant coach at Alabama high school powerhouse Hoover (2005-09), Spain Park (2001-04) and Tuscaloosa County (1996-97). In his first season on the staff at Hoover, the Bucs won the state 6A championship, a feat they would repeat in 2009. The Buccaneers posted a 61-12 overall record while Sherrer was on the staff.
Sherrer was also the defensive backs coach at Spain Park High School from 2001-04. He got his start as a coach as an assistant at Tuscaloosa County High in 1996-97 seasons. Sherrer helped lead the Wildcats to the state 6A championship in his second year on the staff.
Between his time at Tuscaloosa County and Spain Park, Sherrer spent three years (1998-2000) as a graduate assistant at Alabama on head coach Mike DuBose's staff. He assisted on defense while also helping to coordinate scout teams, video breakdown and on-campus recruiting. The Tide won the 1999 SEC title and played in the Orange Bowl that season.
Sherrer was a three-year letter-winner as a tight end at Alabama from 1993-95, helping the Crimson Tide to a 29-7-1 overall record and two SEC West Division titles in that span. He earned his degree in physical education from Alabama in 1996 and a master's degree in higher education administration from the school in 2000.
Sherrer and his wife Carrie have twin sons, Kaleb and Kyle.
1998-2000 University of Alabama graduate assistant
2010-12 University of Alabama director of player development
2013 University of South Alabama defensive coordinator/defensive backs
2014-17 University of Georgia outside linebackers
2018 University of Tennessee inside linebackers/co-defensive coordinator
2019 University of Tennessee inside linebackers/special teams
2020 New York Giants inside linebackers
2021 New York Giants linebackers
*Sherrer was an assistant high school football coach in Alabama from 2001-09.
