Entering his 20th season coaching in the NFL, Karl Dunbar returns to the Jets as the defensive line coach, having previously held the same role with the club for three seasons (2012–14). A former defensive lineman in the NFL, Dunbar has served as a defensive line coach for five different NFL franchises, first getting his start in the league with the Chicago Bears (2004).

In his first stint with the Jets (2012-14), Dunbar oversaw the "Sons of Anarchy," the nickname coined to the team's young core of defensive lineman Damon "Snacks" Harrison, Sheldon Richardson, and Muhammad Wilkerson. Harrison signed with the team as an undrafted free agent (2012), and quickly developed into a full-time starter under Dunbar, starting every game for the team for five consecutive seasons (2013-17). He also guided Richardson to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors (2013) and Muhammad Wilkerson to a second-team All-Pro season (2013).

As the defensive line coach in Pittsburgh the past eight seasons (2018-25), Dunbar helped the Steelers defense register a league-leading 392.0 sacks, producing multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl performers. Under his tutelage, defensive tackle Cam Heyward earned four first-team All-pro selections and was named to six Pro Bowls. Linebacker T.J. Watt led the league in sacks three times (2020, 2021, 2023) and tied the NFL single-season sack record at the time with 22.5 sacks in 2021. Under Dunbar's leadership, Watt was named to eight consecutive Pro Bowls, earned four first-team All-Pro selections, and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2021).

Before joining the Steelers, Dunbar worked as the defensive line coach at the University of Alabama under legendary head coach Nick Saban for two seasons (2016-17), following a season as the defensive line coach with the Buffalo Bills (2015). With the Crimson Tide, Dunbar led a 2017 defensive front that ranked first nationally in scoring defense (11.5 points per game) and fourth against the rush (94.1 yards per game), helping lead Alabama to a National Championship win over Georgia. In his first season (2016), Dunbar's defensive line topped the nation in rushing defense (63.9 yards per game) and was fourth in sacks (3.60 per game). Additionally, Dunbar developed eventual first-round pick defensive end Jonathan Allen, who earned multiple national honors, including the Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award as the nation's Defensive Player of the Year.

Before his first stint with the Jets, Dunbar oversaw the Minnesota defensive line for six seasons (2006-11). With the Vikings, the front helped the defense allow the fewest rushing yards in the NFL (84.8), leading the league in rushing defense for three straight seasons (2006-08), becoming the first team since the 1970 merger to rank first against the run in three consecutive years. In Dunbar's final season with Minnesota (2011), the defense tied for the NFL lead with 50.0 sacks, powered by future Hall of Famer Jared Allen's single-season best 22.0 sacks, just a half-sack shy of the then NFL single-season record.

Dunbar got his NFL coaching start in 2004 as the Chicago Bears defensive line coach before returning to his alma mater, LSU, for the 2005 season in the same capacity. Before his NFL career, Dunbar worked as the defensive line coach at Oklahoma State (2002-03), the strength and conditioning coach at LSU (2000-01), and launched his collegiate coaching career as the defensive line coach at Nicholls State (1998-99).

A second-team All-SEC defensive lineman at LSU, Dunbar was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. After a stint with the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football, Dunbar played three NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints (1993) and Arizona Cardinals (1994-95), logging 27 tackles in 21 games played. He also played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, following his time in the NFL.

FLIGHT PATH

New York Jets 2012-14, 2026-Present

Defensive Line  2012-14, 2026-Present

Pittsburgh Steelers 2018-25

Defensive Line 2018-25

University of Alabama 2016-17

Defensive Line 2016-17

Buffalo Bills 2015

Defensive Line 2015

Minnesota Vikings 2006-11

Defensive Line 2006-11

Louisiana State 2000-01, 2005

Defensive Line 2005

Strength & Conditioning 2000-01

Chicago Bears 2004

Defensive Line 2004

Oklahoma State 2002-03

Defensive Line 2002-03

Nicholls State 1998-99

Defensive Line 1998-99

PLAYING CAREER

Arizona Cardinals (Defensive End) 1994-95

New Orleans Saints (Defensive End) 1993

Louisiana State (Defensive End) 1986-89