USC Promotes Ex-NFL Safety to Defensive Staff

Lincoln Riley continues to reshape Trojans' coaching staff with latest hire

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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USC football head coach Lincoln Riley has promoted AJ Howard, a former NFL safety, to join the Trojans' defensive coaching staff. Howard previously served as an assistant linebacker coach at USC and has prior experience as an outside linebackers coach at Appalachian State and as an NFL scout with the New England Patriots.

Why it matters

Riley is undertaking a major overhaul of USC's defensive coaching staff, bringing in experienced coaches like former TCU head coach Gary Patterson and former Baylor assistant Paul Gonzalez to help turn around a unit that struggled last season. The promotion of Howard, who has both college and NFL experience, is part of Riley's efforts to build a strong defensive coaching staff to support the Trojans' high-powered offense.

The details

In addition to Howard's promotion, Riley is also elevating Skyler Jones, a former assistant with the Los Angeles Rams, to become USC's new defensive tackles coach. Jones previously worked alongside Rams coach Sean McVay and helped coach star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The Trojans lost one Rams assistant in Eric Henderson, but are replacing him with another in Jones who has similar NFL experience.

  • AJ Howard joined USC as an assistant linebacker coach last year.
  • Skyler Jones is entering his third season on Riley's staff, but is shedding the defensive analyst tag.

The players

Lincoln Riley

The head coach of the USC Trojans football team, tasked with rebuilding the program's defense.

AJ Howard

A former NFL safety who has been promoted to join USC's defensive coaching staff after serving as an assistant linebacker coach last season.

Skyler Jones

A former assistant coach with the Los Angeles Rams, who is being promoted to become USC's new defensive tackles coach.

Sean McVay

The head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, who Jones previously worked under.

Aaron Donald

The star defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, who Jones helped coach.

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What they’re saying

“The ex-NFL safety joined USC as an assistant LB coach last year after serving as outside linebackers coach at Appalachian State and as an NFL scout with the New England Patriots. Now expected to be promoted.”

— Matt Zenitz, CBS Sports Reporter (CBS Sports)

What’s next

Riley is expected to continue reshaping USC's defensive coaching staff in the coming weeks as he looks to build a unit that can complement the Trojans' high-powered offense.

The takeaway

Lincoln Riley's overhaul of USC's defensive coaching staff continues, with the promotion of former NFL safety AJ Howard and the elevation of ex-Rams assistant Skyler Jones. These moves are part of Riley's efforts to build a strong defensive coaching staff to support the Trojans' offensive firepower and return the program to national prominence.