Ray
Horton
is in his third season as defensive backs coach after serving the previous
three seasons as assistant defensive backs coach. He was promoted to his current
position after Mike Tomlin was hired in January, 2007.
Horton has helped perennial Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu become one of the NFL’s
top safeties as Polamalu has been to the past five Pro
Bowls.
Horton has accumulated 15 years of NFL
coaching experience following a solid 10-year NFL playing career. Prior to his
Steelers’ appointment on Jan. 24, 2004, Horton spent the previous two seasons atDetroit as the Lions’ secondary
coach.
Horton, who enters
his 16th season coaching in the National Football League, received his first
coaching opportunity as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Washington
Redskins, where he coached Hall of Famer Darrell Green from 1994-96. He then was
hired as defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals
(1997-01).
Horton played
cornerback for the Bengals from 1983-88 and played in Super Bowl XXIII. He
finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989-92 and was a member of the
Cowboys’ Super Bowl XXVII Championship squad.
Horton played at the
University of
Washington, where he earned
All Pac-10 honors. He was a second-round selection by the Bengals in the 1983
NFL Draft (53rd overall).
Horton has a
daughter, Taylor (22), who attends Wheaton College, and a son, Jarren
(18).
