Kris Richard


Kris Richard is currently the defensive backs coach for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.

Playing career

High school

Richard prepped at Serra High School in Gardena, California.

College

Richard attended the University of Southern California, where he played college football as a cornerback under coach Paul Hackett and Pete Carroll from 1998 to 2001.

National Football League

He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played for the Seahawks for three seasons. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins for Ronald Flemons in 2005. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 and the Oakland Raiders in 2007.

Coaching career

USC

Richard was hired in 2008 by Carroll as a graduate assistant coach for the USC secondary.

Seattle Seahawks

He followed Carroll to the NFL and joined his former team, the Seahawks, as secondary coach. Richard was instrumental to the formation of the Legion of Boom defensive secondary. He helped coach and develop players such as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner, Byron Maxwell and for his rookie season only, Shaquill Griffin. Bleacher Report described the Legion of Boom's accomplishments as a credit not only to Richard, but to Carroll, who was a safety himself in his playing days and began his coaching career as a secondary coach.
After losing Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks promoted Richard to defensive coordinator to replace Dan Quinn, who had left to become the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
As the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks, Richard's defense ranked first in points allowed for the 2015 season, third in 2016 and thirteenth in 2017.
Richard was relieved of his defensive coordinator duties following the 2017 season.

Dallas Cowboys

On January 22, 2018, Richard was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as their defensive backs coach. On January 13, 2020, it was reported that Richard would not be retained by Dallas following the removal of head coach Jason Garrett.