Vikings Coaching Staff | Minnesota Vikings - vikings.com

Roy Anderson wrapped his second season with the Vikings staff in 2021, serving as the assistant defensive backs coach. This was Anderson's 16th overall season in the NFL. 

Anderson helped S Xavier Woods play a big role on the defense in 2021, guiding Woods to three interceptions, which was tied for the team-lead. Anderson also helped S Harrison Smith garner his sixth Pro Bowl selection in 2021. Under Anderson's leadership, Smith also tied his career high in sacks with 3.0, while registering 114 tackles, seven passes defensed and one interception.

In the secondary in 2020, Smith made a team-high five interceptions, tied for the most in the NFC for the season. Fellow rookie CB Cameron Dantzler tied for fourth in the NFL among rookie defensive backs with three tackles for loss, and his two interceptions tied for fifth. Dantzler was named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team for his efforts.

Anderson previously served as the lead defensive analyst for the 2019 NCAA CFP National Champion LSU Tigers. At LSU, Anderson was on the coaching staff while Vikings first-round pick, WR Justin Jefferson, led the club offensively to an undefeated national title.

Roy Anderson wrapped his second season with the Vikings staff in 2021, serving as the assistant defensive backs coach. This was Anderson's 16th overall season in the NFL. 

Anderson helped S Xavier Woods play a big role on the defense in 2021, guiding Woods to three interceptions, which was tied for the team-lead. Anderson also helped S Harrison Smith garner his sixth Pro Bowl selection in 2021. Under Anderson's leadership, Smith also tied his career high in sacks with 3.0, while registering 114 tackles, seven passes defensed and one interception.

In the secondary in 2020, Smith made a team-high five interceptions, tied for the most in the NFC for the season. Fellow rookie CB Cameron Dantzler tied for fourth in the NFL among rookie defensive backs with three tackles for loss, and his two interceptions tied for fifth. Dantzler was named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team for his efforts.

Anderson previously served as the lead defensive analyst for the 2019 NCAA CFP National Champion LSU Tigers. At LSU, Anderson was on the coaching staff while Vikings first-round pick, WR Justin Jefferson, led the club offensively to an undefeated national title. 

Prior to his lone season with the Tigers, Anderson spent the previous 14 years in the NFL, primarily coaching defensive backs. His most recent professional stop was with the Chicago Bears as the safeties coach in 2017-18.

While with the Bears, Anderson helped Chicagolead the NFL in scoring defense (17.7 ppg), rushing defense (80.0 ypg), yards per play (4.8), takeaways (35), interceptions (27), three-and-outs (26.8%) and 20+ yard plays (46). Anderson oversaw the development of starting safeties Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. Jackson earned his first career Pro Bowl nod and was named a First-Team All-Pro. Jackson also finished the season fourth in the NFL with six interceptions.

Anderson coached the safeties for four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2012-15), joining the staff after seven seasons (2005-11) with the Baltimore Ravens. During his final two years in Baltimore (2010-11), Anderson was the team's defensive assistant/secondary coach where he handled defensive quality control duties and also worked with the defensive backs. 

While with the Colts in 2014-15, Anderson coached starting S Mike Adams, helping him earn consecutive Pro Bowls in those seasons. Under the help of Anderson, Adams was named to his first career Pro Bowl following the 2014 season after tying for the NFL lead in takeaways with seven (five interceptions, two fumble recoveries). It was his highest takeaway output in his 11 NFL seasons. Adams also posted a single-season career-high with 93 tackles and tied a career-best with 11 passes defensed. In 2015, Adams ranked fourth on the team with 76 tackles and contributed with five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). His five interceptions tied a career-high (2014) and tied for sixth in the NFL. Adams' three forced fumbles also set a new career-best.

In 2011, the Baltimore defense finished third in the NFL in total defense, second against the run and fourth against the pass on their way to an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. S Ed Reed was announced as a Pro Bowl selection. In 2010, Reed collected a First-Team All-Pro, leading the league with eight interceptions. Reed also posted a career-high of 16 pass deflections and was rated at the fifth-best player in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2011. In 2009, his first season as defensive assistant, Anderson worked primarily with the defensive line and helped the Ravens defense rank third in the NFL, allowing 300.5 yards per game.

Anderson originally entered the NFL with the Ravens in 2005 as a player personnel assistant, where he worked on Baltimore's NFL Draft and free agency process by evaluating players, organizing free agent tryouts and monitoring potential trade and waiver transactions.

Prior to joining the Ravens, Anderson was as a graduate assistant with LSU during the 2004 season. Anderson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with Florida A&M University working with the quarterbacks in 2002. The following season, he served as a student assistant with Florida State University, coaching quarterbacks. 

A four-year quarterback at Howard University (1997-2001), Anderson was named to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Team in 2001. 

A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Anderson graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from Howard and also earned his master's in sports management from Florida State in 2003. He attended Godby (Tallahassee, Florida) High School, where he participated in both football and baseball.