Bills Hire Former Wisconsin Badger Terrance Jamison as Defensive Line Coach

Jamison joins Jim Leonhard's staff in Buffalo after coaching at Illinois

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Buffalo Bills have hired former Wisconsin defensive lineman Terrance Jamison as their new defensive line coach. Jamison spent the last five seasons on Bret Bielema's coaching staff at Illinois, first as defensive line coach and then as co-defensive coordinator. He is the latest former Badger to join Jim Leonhard's support staff in Buffalo, following the hires of Bobby April III as outside linebackers coach and Jay Valai as secondary coach.

Why it matters

Leonhard, the Bills' new defensive coordinator, is assembling a staff with strong ties to the University of Wisconsin, where he played and later coached. Jamison's hiring continues that trend and brings another experienced defensive assistant to Buffalo as they look to improve on a defense that struggled at times in 2025.

The details

Jamison played for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin from 2005-07 before joining his coaching staff at Illinois in 2021. He served as the Illini's defensive line coach for two seasons before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2023. Jamison is not the only prominent Illinois assistant to depart this offseason, as defensive coordinator Aaron Henry took a similar role at Notre Dame.

  • Jamison spent the last five seasons on Bret Bielema's coaching staff at Illinois.
  • Jamison played for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin from 2005-07.

The players

Jim Leonhard

The recently-hired defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.

Terrance Jamison

A former defensive lineman at Wisconsin who is joining Leonhard's staff in Buffalo as the new defensive line coach.

Bret Bielema

The head coach at Illinois, where Jamison has coached the last five seasons.

Bobby April III

A former Wisconsin assistant who is joining the Bills as their outside linebackers coach.

Jay Valai

A former Wisconsin assistant who is joining the Bills as their secondary coach.

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The takeaway

Jim Leonhard is assembling a coaching staff with strong ties to the University of Wisconsin, where he played and later coached. The hiring of Terrance Jamison as defensive line coach continues that trend and brings another experienced defensive assistant to Buffalo as they look to improve on a defense that struggled at times in 2025.