Dave Huxtable

Dave Huxtable was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as a senior defensive assistant on Feb. 27, 2023.

Huxtable comes to Atlanta with 40 seasons of coaching experience at the collegiate level – including 18 seasons as a defensive coordinator – having most recently served as an analyst for the University of Alabama from 2021-22. Before joining the Crimson Tide's staff, Huxtable spent one season (2020) as an analyst for the University of Texas after spending seven seasons (2013-19) as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State University where he coached with Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from 2013-16 and Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford from 2016-18.

In 2018, North Carolina State ranked second in the ACC and 13th in the nation in rushing defense (109.1 yards per game). Additionally, linebacker Germaine Pratt earned first-team All-ACC honors after averaging more than nine tackles per game. In 2017, the Wolfpack ranked third in the conference in rushing yards per game, limiting opponents to 131 yards per game on the ground. Under Huxtable's tutelage, four Wolfpack defenders were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, including the fifth-overall selection, Bradley Chubb. In 2016, NC State ranked eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game, limiting opponents to 108.6 yards per game – the fifth fewest in a season in program history.

Prior to his time at NC State, Huxtable spent one season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh where his Panthers defense ranked 16th in the nation in total defense (325.8 yards per game), 21st in scoring defense (19.7 points per game), 24th in rushing defense (129.1 yards per game) and 25th in passing defense (196.8). Defensive lineman Aaron Donald earned first-team All-Big East honors after leading the conference and ranking 11th nationally with 18.5 tackles for loss, while safety Jason Hendricks was a second-team selection after leading the Big East and tying for ninth nationally with five interceptions.

Huxtable earned a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Illinois in 1979.