Feature Pieces
VUCommodores.com – Egorugwu Eager for Opportunity at Vanderbilt
Following a six-year stint in the National Football League, John Egorugwu returned to college football with Vanderbilt in February, 2021, as its linebackers coach.
Egorugwu was with the Buffalo Bills for four seasons (2017-20) as a defensive quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach, and with the Baltimore Ravens for two years (2015-16) as a staff assistant, working primarily with the linebackers.
In 2020, the Bills returned to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993. His work with the linebackers helped the team finish fifth in the league in opponent pass efficiency and tied for seventh in interceptions. The 2019 campaign had Egorugwu help Buffalo linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to his first Pro Bowl while the defense as a whole allowed just 298.3 yards/game. In 2018, Egorugwu helped the Bills linebackers to seven interceptions, tied with the New York Giants for the most among the position group in the league.
During his two years with the Ravens, Egorugwu aided linebacker Elvis Dumervil to a 2015 Pro Bowl bid and linebacker C.J. Mosley to a Pro Bowl nod in 2016. Mosley and linebacker Zach Orr were second team Associated Press All-Pros at the end of the 2016 campaign.
Before jumping to the NFL, Egorugwu was hired as the Missouri State wide receivers coach in 2015. He spent three years (2012-14) as a graduate assistant at Missouri, working with both the defense (2012) and offense (2013-14). During his tenure, the Tigers earned Cotton Bowl (2013) and Citrus Bowl (2014) bids. Missouri claimed the SEC East Division title and played in the league’s title game in 2013 and 2014. The 2013 squad was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in the Associated Press poll while the 2014 team reached No. 14.
Egorugwu got his start in coaching at his alma mater, William Jewell, mentoring linebackers from 2010-11.
A linebacker himself for William Jewell, Egorugwu received his bachelor’s in accounting and business/management in 2007. He played in 29 games, booking 156 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and two interceptions during his career. A standout senior year had Egorugwu book 84 tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Egorugwu earned his master’s from Missouri in educational and counseling psychology.
The Egorugwu File
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
College: William Jewell (accounting and business/management, 2007)
Graduate School: Missouri (educational and counseling psychology, 2014)
Playing Experience
2004-07 • William Jewell (Linebacker)
Coaching Career
2010 • William Jewell • Linebackers
2011 • William Jewell • Linebackers
2012 • Missouri • Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2013 • Missouri • Graduate Assistant (Offense)
2014 • Missouri • Graduate Assistant (Offense)
2015 • Missouri State • Wide Receivers
2015 • Baltimore Ravens • Defensive Staff Assistant
2016 • Baltimore Ravens • Defensive Staff Assistant
2017 • Buffalo Bills • Defensive Quality Control Coach
2018 • Buffalo Bills • Defensive Quality Control Coach (Assistant Linebackers Coach)
2019 • Buffalo Bills • Defensive Quality Control Coach (Assistant Linebackers Coach)
2020 • Buffalo Bills • Defensive Quality Control Coach (Assistant Linebackers Coach)
2021 • Vanderbilt • Linebackers
Postseason Experience
2013 • Missouri • Cotton Bowl
2014 • Missouri • Citrus Bowl
2017 • Buffalo Bills • AFC Wild Card Round
2019 • Buffalo Bills • AFC Wild Card Round
2020 • Buffalo Bills • AFC Championship Round