DRÉ BLY begins his first season with the New York Jets as the defensive backs coach, returning to the NFL after serving as a defensive analyst for UNC Charlotte this past season (2024).

In 2023, Bly served as the cornerbacks coach for the Detroit Lions, where he helped guide the secondary to hold opposing quarterbacks to a 63% completion percentage, the 10th-best mark in the League that year. He helped Detroit clinch their first NFC North division title since 1993.

An 11-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, Bly played cornerback for the St Louis Rams (1999-02), Detroit Lions (2003-06), Denver Broncos (2007-08), and the San Francisco 49ers (2009). The 2x Pro Bowler was a second-round draft selection by the Rams in the 1999 NFL Draft and appeared in 167 games (117 starts) throughout his NFL career.

Bly also had a successful playing career in college football, as he was a three-time All-American cornerback for the UNC Tarheels, leading the nation in interceptions during his redshirt freshman year (11), and winning ACC Rookie of the Year in 1996. He broke the ACC record for career interceptions (20) before it was eventually broken by Alphonso Smith in 2008. During his sophomore year, he was one of three finalists for the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Bly was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2017, was voted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, his home state, as he grew up in Chesapeake, VA.

Bly and his wife, Kristyn, have four sons, Trey, Jordan, AJ, and Emanuel, and a daughter, Peyton. Trey was a cornerback for UNC[1]Charlotte (2019-22). Jordan graduated from Old Dominion and currently plays for the New York Giants, after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent (2025). His nephew, Josh Downs, plays for the Indianapolis Colts.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2025-Present

Assistant Defensive Backs 2025-Present

University of North Carolina at Charlotte 2024

Defensive Analyst 2024

Detroit Lions 2023

Cornerbacks 2023

University of North Carolina 2019-22

Cornerbacks 2019-22

Miami Dolphins 2018

Coaching Intern 2018

New Orleans Saints 2017

Coaching Intern 2017

PLAYING CAREER

San Francisco 49ers (CB) 2009

Denver Broncos (CB) 2007-08

Detroit Lions (CB) 2003-06

St. Louis Rams (CB) 1999-02

North Carolina (CB) 1996-98