Role: Secondary Coach
Previous Role: Assistant Defensive Line Coach
Previous Team: New York Giants
Age: 32
The Raiders have reportedly hired former Ravens coach, and Giants assistant defensive line coach, Matt Robinson as their secondary coach, yes that felt weird typing. Robinson is close with current Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard from their time in Baltimore under now Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald. A key showing for Leonard was to be his position coaches, indicating his potential scheme, and so far it seems as if Leonard will tap more into Brian Flores and Mike MacDonald than Patrick Graham.
*I won’t be touching on experience more than a decade old, for any of these breakdowns unless it’s a very key thing to note*
Experience
Robinson, a former college safety and linebacker played at Maryland from 2010-2014 before joining the NFL in 2015 and bouncing around till 2017. In 2017, Robinson joined UConn as a grad assistant for two seasons working with defensive backs. In 2019, he joined Maryland as a LB Assistant and DL assistant in 2020. 2021 saw Robinson join the Ravens working as an assistant OLB coach, in 2022 he transitioned to a DB coach role, before 2023 he shifted to a broad quality control coach role. In 2024, Robinson shifted gears to an assistant LB coach role. In 2025, he served as the Ravens full time OLB coach, and then joined the Giants earlier this year as their assistant DL coach.
UConn (2017-2018)
Robinson got his start working under defensive coordinator Billy Crocker, the now head coach at Eastern University, and DB coach Curome Cox who’s worked as the Virginia DB coach and Co-DC since 2022 producing 8 NFL picks. In 2017, Robinson helped UConn’s DBs log 6 interceptions and over 20 PBU, additionally the Huskies signed NFL LB Darrien Beavers as a safety. In 2018, freshman CB Omar Fortt logged 76 tackles, an interception, and 2 PBU with UConn DBs posting 3 interceptions and 4 PBU (they were terrible).
Maryland (2019-2020)
Robinson was hired by former Buccaneers, Falcons, Texans, and Bears DB coach Jon Hoke to serve as his assistant LB coach, while also working under Missouri LB coach and 22 year special teams coordinator John Papuchis. In his first season as an Asst. LB coach with Maryland, Robinson helped his alma. matter see Antoine Brooks lead the B10 in solo tackles with 69 and also saw Jordan Mosely log 48 tackles, 3 TFL, and a PBU. NFL DB Nick Cross posted 2 INT, and 7 PBU with 55 tackles as well. Maryland would sign NFL players Beau Brade, and Tarheeb Still (and Raiders T DJ Glaze). In 2020, the Terrapins played just five games, with Robinson shifting to assistant DL coach where he saw EDGE Mosiah Nasili-Kite log 5 TFL and 4 sacks, Ami Finau 3 TFL and 2 sacks, and Bears LB Ruban Hyppolite II 2 sacks, 2 TFL, and 19 tackles. Additionally, Robinson would help the Terrapins sign NFL standout Chop Robinson, Bills DT Tommy Akingbesote, and Florida State star DT Darrell Jackson Jr.
Baltimore Ravens (2022) – Asst. DB Coach
In 2022, Robinson got his first look at coaching DBs at the NFL level working under DB coaches Chris Hewitt (Colts DB Coach) & D’Anton Lynn (Penn State DC), along with DC Mike MacDonald (Seahawks HC). The Ravens saw DB’s Marlon Humphrey post 3 INT and 7 PBU with a Pro Bowl honor. Additionally, Chuck Clark logged 4 PBU and 101 tackles, Brandon Stephens 7 PBU, Marcus Peters an interception and 6 breakups, and rookie safety Kyle Hamilton 62 tackles and 7 PBU. Veterans Daryl Worley, Geno Stone, and Jalyn Armour-Davis also contributed. The Ravens prioritized heavy box safeties, and Robinson worked more under safeties coach D’Anton Lynn working with a diverse group closer to the line of scrimmage and in the box, while also holding roles with over the top single high safeties in Chuck Clark and Marcus Williams who posted a team leading 4 interceptions and 9 PBU.
Baltimore Ravens (2023) – Defensive QC
It’s tough to pinpoint Robinson’s role in 2023 with a specific unit after being promoted to quality control coach but the then 28 year old worked under Mike MacDonald, Chris Hewitt, Chuck Smith (Ravens DL Coach), Zach Orr (Seahawks ILB Coach), and Giants DC Dennard Wilson during his time in 2023. The Ravens finished 13-4 with the 2nd ranked NFL defense that saw 4 pro bowlers and 4 All-Pros including Kyle Hamilton who logged 4 interceptions and 13 PBU solidifying himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL in just his second season.
Baltimore Ravens (2024) – Asst. OLB Coach
Robinson saw a promotion back to Asst. OLB/DL Coach in 2024 working with DL coach Dennis Johnson, who holds that same role with the Giants in 2026 along with LB coach Mark DeLeone (Chiefs RB coach), and DC Zachary Orr. The Ravens maintained MacDonald’s system from 2022 and 2023 in 2025, which saw a diverse group at OLB including pass rush focused players and traditional off ball linebackers. In addition, Robinson worked with more box safety types including Kyle Hamilton, who logged 64% of his snaps in the box or nickel in 2024. Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy logged 41 tackles, 14 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 21 QB hits, 12.5 sacks, and earned pro bowl honors. Additionally, Odafe Oweh posted 39 tackles, 57 pressure, 23 QB hits, 9 TFL, and 10 sacks. Linebacker Tavius Robinson logged 32 tackles, 2 PBU, 4 TFL, and 13 QB hits, and Kyle Hamilton 107 tackles, 9 PBU, and an interception. Additionally, David Ojabo posted 9 tackles, 6 QB hits, and 2.5 sacks in 13 games with safety Eddie Jackson seeing time in the box with 30 tackles.
Baltimore Ravens (2025) – OLB Coach
2025 was Robinson’s first season as a position coach working under current Ravens DL coach Chuck Smith and LB coach Tyler Santucci, along with Zachary Orr. The Ravens brought in veteran Chuck Pagano as an advisor as well. The Ravens pass rush did struggle, though they suffered numerous injuries and traded away star Odafe Oweh. EDGE Tavius Robinson posted 28 tackles, 10 QB hits, a 15.8% win rate, and 4.5 sacks in 10 games with rookie Mike Green logging 7 TFL, 14 QB Hits, 3.5 sacks, and 2 FF in 17 games. Kyle Van Noy posted 20 tackles, 4 TFL, 11 QB Hits, an interception, 6 PBU, and 2.5 sacks in 15 games, with rookie Teddy Buchanan bouncing between inside and weakside posting 93 tackles, 5 TFL, and a FF before a torn ACL. Additionally, the Ravens shifted S Alohi Gilman to a box role, where he logged an interception, 6 PBU, 67 tackles, and a TFL with Kyle Hamilton also working partially with the OLB’s posting 1st team All Pro honors. While Robinson, not directly responsible for the consistency of Hamilton and others in the box, he’s played a large role in their coaching and involvement to the position and impact they’ve had.
Philosophy:
Robinson is a true disciple of the Mike MacDonald tree working under MacDonald, Leonard, and Zachary Orr before shifting to Las Vegas to rejoin Rob Leonard. MacDonald employs a base level, highly adaptive and versatile defense that consistently switches from zone to man but is built on aggression and prioritizing run defense. The similar traits apply to Robinson, and defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, who’s spoken on aggression up front and a focus on the run defense. Additionally, Robinson has worked primarily under defensive back coaches prioritizing a nickel defenses and man coverage with an aggressive nature at the LOS in both man and zone coverage. The addition of Robinson, who will likely work with safeties, and Joe Woods at CB coach/pass game coordinator signals that the Raiders may be focusing on a similar system to MacDonald but also implementing the man coverage philosophy of Brian Flores who Rob Leonard worked under in Miami.
Players to Watch, Connections:
Safety Alohi Gilman is slated to hit free agency after seeing success with the Ravens, in 2025, along with safety Ar’Darius Washington who played 4 games in 2025 but posted 64 tackles, 2 INT, and 9 PBU in 2024 with the Ravens. In addition, veteran DL Brent Urban and Taven Bryan, both of which have experience working with Robinson are hitting the market with the 35 year old Urban having 4.5 sacks, 82 tackles, and 10 TFL in his last 61 games with Baltimore since 2022. EDGE Kyle Van Noy, 35 years old, is slated to hit the market, and could provide Las Vegas a potential veteran presence on the defensive line and linebacker. Notably, Chargers EDGE Odafe Oweh who spent time with Rob Leonard as well, is slated to become a free agent and fits the Raiders lack of pass rush extremely well. Former 2nd rounder David Ojabo, who also spent time with Rob Leonard & Robinson, could be a swing signing.