Pernell McPhee, Wolverine
Former NFL linebacker Pernell McPhee has been elevated from a defensive analyst to outside linebackers coach for Michigan. He joined Michigan’s staff in 2024.
McPhee played under Wink Martindale when Martindale was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. The outside linebacker was a Raven from 2011-2014 and 2019-2021, with stints in between playing for Washington and Chicago.
McPhee graduated from Pahokee (FL) Pahokee, the home of former Michigan wide receiver Martavious Odoms and linebacker Brandin Hawthorne. He then attended Itawamba Community College and Mississippi State before getting drafted in the fifth round (#165 overall) in 2011. He made 260 tackles and 38 sacks during his eleven-year NFL career.
The coaching landscape has changed in college football. This off-season, the NCAA passed a rule allowing analysts and “off-the-field” staff to now become on-field coaches. Instead of being allowed eleven coaches – a number that was recently increased from ten – now programs can basically hire as many coaches as they can afford. Michigan recently lost defensive analyst LaTroy Lewis to the Toledo Rockets as he became their defensive line coach, so the promotion of McPhee seems connected to the loss of Lewis.