Tim Walton

Tim Walton
Secondary Coach / Cornerbacks
Ohio State University

Tim Walton, a former Buckeye cornerback who has 25 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and NFL levels, returned to Ohio State in January 2022 to work as the Buckeyes’ secondary coach/cornerbacks coach.

Walton comes back to Ohio State after having spent the last 11 seasons in the National Football League. For the past three years, from 2019 through 2021, he was the cornerbacks coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This past season, the Jaguars ranked ninth in the league in fewest touchdown passes allowed (24) and 17th in fewest passing yards allowed (3,875).

Walton coached two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey, now with the Los Angeles Rams, while with the Jaguars.

“Coach Walton … he’s probably one of the best DB coaches, if not the best DB coach, I’ve ever had in my life,” Ramsey said in an ESPN interview after being traded to the Rams. “He was really good. He was not only a good coach … coached us super hard … and made sure we were on our technique. But he was a good person as well. He cared about us off the field. Cared about battles we may be fighting off the field. He was always there for us. It was important, and it meant a lot that he was always trying to understand. He was really thorough in everything. He made sure he knew us individually as a player and as a person.”

From 2015-17, Walton served as the secondary/cornerbacks coach with the New York Giants. There, he mentored two cornerbacks who went on to earn Pro Bowl honors: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in 2015 and 2016 along with Janoris Jenkins in 2016. Walton’s 2016 secondary ranked second in the NFL in opposing quarterback rating (75.8) and third in completion percentage (58.6). In 2015, Rodgers-Cromartie became the first Giants cornerback to play in the Pro Bowl in 31 years, or since Mark Haynes did so in 1984.

In 2013, Walton was hired by Jeff Fisher to be the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator. He oversaw a unit that totaled 53.0 sacks, third best in the league, and allowed just 102.9 yards per game rushing, which ranked ninth.

Walton got his start in the NFL under Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz when he was hired as the Lions’ secondary coach in 2009. While in Detroit, the Lions led the NFL with seven defensive touchdowns during the 2011 season.

Prior to his time in the NFL, Walton spent 14 years as a collegiate coach, highlighted by defensive coordinator assignments at Memphis in 2008 and Miami (Fla.) in 2007. Walton spent a total of four seasons at Miami (2004-07), coaching the defensive backs from 2004-06 before taking on the defensive coordinator role in 2007. His unit that season ranked 33rd nationally in total defense. Walton coached three All-Americans and two freshman All-Americans during his time at Miami.

In 2003, Walton coached defensive backs at LSU, helping the Tigers win both the SEC title and BCS National Championship. He also spent one year at Syracuse (2002) and two at Memphis (2000-01) prior to that.

Walton began his coaching career at Bowling Green State University where he coached on both sides of the ball, mentoring running backs from 1996-98 and defensive backs in 1999. He was a graduate assistant for the Falcons in 1995.

Walton was a four-year letterwinner with the Buckeyes and a member of the 1993 Big Ten champion team coached by John Cooper. He played in 41 games, started 25 times and totaled 159 tackles, 10 interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Walton was a member of teams that played in the Liberty, Hall of Fame, Citrus and Holiday bowls. He earned his degree in sociology in 1994.

Walton, who is from Columbus, Ga., and his wife, Tracy, have three children: Trei, Timia and Tyler.

Tim Walton Quick Facts
Hometown: Columbus, Ga.
High School: Carver
Alma Mater: Ohio State, 1994
Degree: Sociology
Year in Coaching: 25th (First at Ohio State)
Family: Wife, Tracy; daughter, Timia and sons, Trei and Tyler

Tim Walton Coaching Records

Tim Walton Bowl Games