Two former Auburn linebackers, who were top tacklers for the team, have transitioned into coaching roles in the NFL for the upcoming 2024 season. Daren Bates has joined the coaching staff of the Carolina Panthers under head coach Dave Canales, serving as the special-teams assistant. Meanwhile, Josh Bynes is set to embark on his coaching journey as the assistant linebackers coach for the Seattle Seahawks, with reports confirming his appointment on Monday. Bynes will be reuniting with Mike Macdonald, his former position coach in 2019 and defensive coordinator in 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens, as Macdonald takes on the role of the Seahawks’ head coach.
This marks Bates’ second season as a coach, having previously worked with the Los Angeles Rams’ special teams as a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow before joining the Seahawks as an assistant coach last year. Tracy Smith, who served as Seattle’s special-teams assistant in 2023, has now been promoted to the role of special-teams coordinator for the Panthers.
Bynes, remembered for his pivotal tackle in the Super Bowl despite enduring injuries earlier in his career, was a standout tackler during his time at Auburn, notably contributing to their undefeated BCS national championship-winning season in 2010. Despite entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2011, Bynes amassed an impressive record of 138 regular-season and seven playoff games over 12 seasons, enduring multiple releases along the way.
Similarly, Bates, who initially started his Auburn career as a safety before transitioning to linebacker, showcased his versatility and skill on the field. Despite also entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie, Bates accumulated 125 regular-season and seven playoff games over nine seasons, making significant contributions both on defense and special teams throughout his career.
