Roy Anderson enters his third year as the cornerbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles after joining the team during the 2024 offseason.
In his second season with the club, Anderson continued to facilitate the growth of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who earned first-team Associated Press All-Pro nods, becoming the first Eagle cornerbacks to earn All-Pro honors since 2004. In addition, Anderson's unit aided a defense who held opponents to the lowest completion percentage (56.8 pct.) in the NFL.
In 2024, Anderson was a member of the Super Bowl LIX-winning coaching staff that helped the Eagles lead the league in total yards allowed per game (278.4 ypg) for the first time since 1991. In addition, Philadelphia finished first in passing defense (174.2 ypg), third in opponent passer rating (82.5) and sixth in opponent completion percentage (62.2 pct.).
Under Anderson's guidance, the Eagles' first and second-round draft choices – Mitchell and DeJean – were named Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists. Mitchell was third among cornerbacks in forced incompletions (15, tied) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.78) (min. 600 coverage snaps), while adding two postseason interceptions. DeJean, who recorded a pick-six in Super Bowl LIX, was the third-highest graded cornerback (82.7) by Pro Football Focus and did not allow a touchdown in coverage all season. Furthermore, Darius Slay ranked third among his position in forced incompletion percentage (20.6 pct.) and fourth in completion percentage allowed (48.5 pct.) (min. 50 targets).
In 2023, Anderson tutored two Pro Bowlers – cornerback Devon Witherspoon and safety Julian Love – as the Seattle Seahawks' secondary coach. Witherspoon, who received PFWA All-Rookie recognition, posted the fifthmost passes defended (16) in the NFL while adding 79 tackles, three sacks, and one interception returned for a touchdown. Love registered 110 tackles with career highs in passes defended (10) and interceptions (four).
Before joining the Seahawks, Anderson spent three years as the Minnesota Vikings' assistant defensive backs/safeties coach (2020-22). In 2022, safety Harrison Smith tied for fifth in the NFL in interceptions (five).
Anderson helped safety Xavier Woods play an impactful role on the defense in 2021, guiding him to three interceptions, which tied for the most on the team. Anderson also helped Smith garner his sixth Pro Bowl selection after logging 114 tackles, seven passes defended, and one interception. Under Anderson's guidance, Smith tallied a team-high five interceptions during the 2020 campaign, tying for the conference lead. Furthermore, cornerback Cameron Dantzler collected PFWA All-Rookie honors.
Anderson worked as the lead defensive analyst for LSU in 2019, when the Tigers went undefeated to win the BCS National Championship.
Prior to his lone season with LSU, Anderson spent 14 years in the NFL, primarily coaching defensive backs. From 2017-18, he worked with the Chicago Bears as an assistant defensive backs coach under Vic Fangio. In 2018, Anderson helped safety Eddie Jackson earn first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after ranking fourth in the NFL with six interceptions.
In 2016, Anderson coached the San Francisco 49ers' safeties following a four-year tenure with the Indianapolis Colts (2012-15).
During his time with the Colts, Anderson helped safety Mike Adams receive consecutive Pro Bowl nods after the 2014-15 seasons. In 2015, Adams recorded five interceptions, including one touchdown, while adding 93 tackles and tying a career best with 11 passes defended. The veteran defensive back also tied for the league lead in takeaways with seven (career-high five interceptions, two fumble recoveries) during the 2014 season.
Anderson spent seven seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2005-11) as a defensive assistant (2009-11), coaching assistant (2008), and player personnel assistant (2005-07). As a defensive assistant, Anderson handled quality control duties and worked with the defensive backs.
In 2011, Baltimore finished third in the NFL in total defense (288.9 ypg), second against the run (92.6 ypg), and fourth against the pass (196.3 ypg) on their way to an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. In 2010, safety Ed Reed collected first-team All-Pro accolades after leading the league with eight interceptions and tallying a career-high 16 passes defended.
Prior to the Ravens, Anderson was a graduate assistant at LSU in 2004. He started his career working with quarterbacks as a graduate assistant at Florida A&M (2002) and as a student assistant at Florida State (2003).
A four-year quarterback at Howard (1997-2001), Anderson was named to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Team in 2001.
A native of Tallahassee, FL, Anderson graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Howard and earned his master's in sports management from Florida State. He attended Godby (Tallahassee, FL) High School, where he participated in both football and baseball.
Anderson is married to his wife, Nicole.
