llinois head football coach Lovie Smith recently named longtime NFL assistant coach Gill Byrd to the Fighting Illini defensive staff as passing game coordinator and safeties coach.

Byrd comes to Champaign-Urbana after one season as defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills, following stops with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15), Chicago Bears (2006-12) and St. Louis Rams (2003-05).