Meet Syracuse OC Jeff Nixon: Coach to NFL Superstars

Shortly after Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in a season-opening win over Ohio, becoming the first Orange QB with those statistics since 2016, head coach Fran Brown joked he owed McCord's old head coach, Ohio State's Ryan Day, a bottle of champagne.

The quip, made by one friend to another, went viral. But that's not the only thing Brown said about his offense in the days after the 38-22 win. He also spent a lot of time heaping praise on the man who called the plays for Syracuse, offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.

"Coach Nixon is a leader," Brown told reporters this week. "He's been a leader for a long time. I've worked with him places where he's led a good offense. … He does a good job. He's a great leader. Good husband. Good father. He's a classy dude."

The 49-year-old Nixon is a long-time NFL veteran. He's coached Reggie Bush, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley, among others. Nixon is also a proven play-caller. He served as Baylor's co-offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2019 as the Bears jumped from 1-11 in Year 1 to 11-3 and a Big 12 championship game appearance in Year 3; Nixon, Brown and Orange defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson were on the same Baylor staff in 2017.

Nixon's coached a bit of everything in his career. He's mainly worked with running backs but also spent time with tight ends, wide receivers and special teams.

The play-calling ranks are typically dominated by former quarterback coaches. Nixon's worked with his share of great ones -- Andy Reid, Mike Sherman, Chip Kelly and Day -- but views his diverse positional background as an advantage. Running backs and tight ends, particularly, touch every element of an offense. It's informed the way Nixon thinks about his pro-spread system.

"I think it makes all the difference," Nixon said this week in an interview with CBS Sports. "I've been around a lot of good guys who've trained quarterbacks, and it's influenced me. I've learned a lot of passing game. Being able to coach running backs and tight ends you have to know everything in an offensive system because you ask (them) to do everything as far as the blocking scheme, running routes, pass concepts and protections.

"We run a little bit of everything. It's a system built on being able to take advantage of what the defense gives you from week to week. … I think we have enough in our arsenal when we can adapt to whatever the defense we're playing and be able to go out and attack them."

That's something Nixon's peers have credited him on throughout his career. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, Nixon's high school teammate, had Nixon on his Carolina Panthers coaching staff in 2021. 

"He's going to play to the guy's strengths," Rhule said. "He's disciplined. He's not emotional. That's one of the things I like best about Jeff, he's even keeled. Doesn't get too high or too low."

Nixon could have stayed with the New York Giants following the 2023 season. The NFL is a destination for many college coaches as the demands on college coaches are greatly increased due to the recruiting calendar and the transfer portal. But Nixon said he had total trust in Brown and Robinson due to their time together at Baylor. It was an easy choice when Brown called Nixon's number. 

Plus, it provided an opportunity for Nixon to coach his son.

Will Nixon helped Washington reach the national championship game last season as the program's backup running back. He, like many Huskies, opted to enter the transfer portal following Kalen DeBoer's departure for Alabama.

Picking his next school proved easy.

"It's really exciting," Jeff Nixon said. "He really wanted to play for me. It's been a joy. He's done a nice job and adds a veteran presence to our running back room. It's just nice to have him."

Nixon is also very happy to have another player he's known for a long time on the roster: McCord.

When Nixon worked for the Eagles from 2007 to 2010, Will played for a youth football team in New Jersey. His teammate at that time? McCord. Nixon kept in touch with the McCord family for years following his Philadelphia tenure. He even recruited McCord a bit at Baylor. When McCord eventually signed with Ohio State and Nixon headed back to the NFL, Nixon spoke to the McCord family a few times a year just to check in and offer advice when asked for it.

Nixon couldn't have asked for a better Year 1 triggerman as Syracuse beat out Nebraska for McCord's services.

"It was just perfect timing, perfect situation." Nixon said. "He immediately came to mind as someone who was the No. 1 guy we want to get into the program. So far, he's done a great job. He's a leader. You can't say enough good things about him."

Nixon, with some help from McCord, has jumpstarted the Orange offense going into a matchup with No. 23 Georgia Tech (12 p.m. ET, ACC Network) on Saturday. Syracuse averaged 5.28 yards per play -- 98th nationally -- last season. That was up to 6.86 yards per play in a Week 1 win over Ohio with, as Brown said postgame, plenty of room for improvement.

Returning offensive players, like star running back LeQuint Allen, have raved about Nixon's impact on the offense. 

"I won't lie, Allen said in the spring. "I've learned a lot quick from Coach Nixon. He's elevated me both as a person and a player."

It's part of a buy-in that Nixon's experienced throughout his career, largely because of his relationship with his players.

"He's a real genuine guy," Carolina Panthers running back Chubba Hubbard said in 2021. "With football you can have great coaches, smart, but it's hard to have a coach who really cares for you genuinely. I really think he's that."