Philadelphia Eagles
Taver Johnson
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach
Biography
Taver Johnson was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as the assistant defensive backs coach during the 2023 offseason. He brings 30 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Philadelphia's staff.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Johnson served as the defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach at Eastern Michigan in 2022. He helped Eastern Michigan rank first in the MAC in interceptions (13, tied) and second in opponent completion percentage (54.9 pct.) during its 9-4 campaign.
From 2019-21, Johnson was an offensive assistant (2021) and assistant defensive backs coach (2019-20) with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
While assisting the Raiders' secondary in 2020, Johnson played a key role in cornerback Trayvon Mullen's continued improvement in his second NFL season. Mullen started all 16 contests and logged career highs in tackles (62), passes defensed (14) and interceptions (two). In addition, Johnson helped guide safety Jeff Heath to a career-high three interceptions.
In his first year with the Raiders, Johnson supported a young defensive backs room that included Mullen, who was the team's second-round draft selection. That season, the rookie cornerback led the club with 10 passes defensed, which were the most by a Raiders rookie since Charles Woodson in 1998 (22). Johnson also assisted in navigating safety Erik Harris to career highs in tackles (68), passes defensed (nine) and interceptions (three).
Johnson returned to Ohio State in 2018 as the cornerbacks coach after previously working as the defensive backs coach from 2007-11. He helped the Buckeyes finish 13-1 and claim the eighth Rose Bowl victory in program history while ranking 15th nationally in third-down defense (32.7 pct.).
During the 2017 campaign, Johnson served as Temple's defensive coordinator. He led a group that ranked 11th in the country in sacks (39, first in the American Athletic Conference) and tackles for loss (102).
Johnson coached the defensive backs at Purdue from 2014-16. Under his tutelage, the secondary registered double-digit interceptions every year while also having a member of his group lead the defense twice in tackles (safety Landon Feichter in 2014; safety Leroy Clark in 2015).
Before joining Purdue's staff, Johnson held the title of assistant head coach at Arkansas from 2012-13. During that span, he also worked closely with the Razorbacks' defensive backs (2013) and linebackers (2012).