The Nebraska football team has parted ways with defensive coordinator John Butler after just one season leading the Blackshirts.
Nebraska lost its regular season finale to Iowa on Friday, giving up 40 points to a Hawkeye team that had managed just 16, 21 and 20 points in its previous three games. The Huskers finished with a 7-5 record, just a one-game improvement from the previous regular season.
On Black Friday, Iowa rushed for 213 yards at 4.6 a tote. Senior quarterback Mark Gronowski went 9-for-16 for 166 yards and one score through the air running the ball 13 times for 64 rushing yards and two additional touchdowns. In all, the Hawkeyes racked up 379 yards of offense, their highest total in Big Ten play.
Head coach Matt Rhule made Butler’s firing official with a statement on Monday.
“I informed John Butler earlier today that he will not be retained as defensive coordinator effective immediately,” Rhule said. “We thank John for his contributions to our football program over the past two seasons and wish him the best moving forward in his coaching career. Phil Snow will serve as the interim defensive coordinator for our upcoming bowl game. We will work toward naming a new defensive coordinator for the 2026 season in the coming weeks.”
Butler began his coaching stint with the team as the secondary coach in 2024 before Rhule promoted him to defensive coordinator before the Pinstripe bowl game.
Under Butler’s guidance in 2025, Nebraska’s run defense had difficulties all season, ranking No. 114 in the country while giving up 4.80 yards per carry. It had more success in other areas, ranking No. 22 in total defense at 312.3 yards per game and finishing the season at No. 53 in scoring defense, allowing 23.0 points per game. The Huskers were second in the Big Ten in passing defense, allowing 141.1 yards per game, a 58% completion rate and only seven touchdowns, tied for third in the conference. However, the issues in the run game were too much to overcome.
Nebraska allowed 444 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in its last two games against Penn State and the Hawkeyes, and the Huskers gave up more than 5.0 yards per carry in five of their last six.
With Snow taking over defensive coordinator duties, the Nebraska staff will turn its attention to the opening of the national signing period on Wednesday while awaiting its bowl game destination.
