Steve Russ enters his fifth season coaching in the NFL after spending four in the league as a player.
In 2021, Russ coached Cole Holcomb to a career-high two interceptions including a pick-six, his first career touchdown. Holcomb also registered a career-high seven passes defensed and 142 total tackles. He also forced two fumbles.
In 2020, Russ coached linebackers Holcomb and Jon Bostic, both setting career-highs in sacks. He also helped develop Holcomb in his second season, racking up the most tackles for a Washington player through their first two seasons [171].
Prior to joining Washington, he served as the linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2018-19 where he coached All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly.
Prior to joining Carolina, Russ spent six seasons (2012-17) at Air Force as the assistant head coach, including four (2014-17) as the defensive coordinator and defensive backfield coach. Russ served as co-defensive coordinator from 2012-13 with responsibilities coaching the inside linebackers (2013) and secondary (2012).
Russ arrived at Air Force, his alma mater, from Wake Forest where he spent four seasons (2008-11). Russ coached tight ends and fullbacks in his first two seasons before moving to the defensive side of the ball, coaching linebackers in 2010 and the secondary in 2011.
Russ also coached at Syracuse (2005-07) where he led linebackers in 2005 and 2006, before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2007. Prior to Cuse, he was an assistant at Ohio (2001-04).
While playing at Air Force, Russ earned second-team All-WAC honors in 1994. Russ was a seventh-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in the 1995 NFL Draft. He was just the fifth player in Air Force history to be drafted in the NFL.
Following two years of active service in the military, Russ joined the Broncos and spent four seasons (1997-2000) with the team. He was a part of Denver's 1997 and 1998 Super Bowl Championship teams. He played in 24 career games as a linebacker and on special teams.
Russ and his wife, Betsy, are the parents of a daughter, Mackenzie, and a son, Tyler.
