
Dave Borgonzi
Linebackers
College: Amherst College
Hometown: Everett, Mass.
Experience: 16 years
Biography
Borgonzi enters his fourth season with Indianapolis as linebackers coach. He has 15 years of coaching experience, including 10 seasons in the NFL with the Colts (2018-20), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-17) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-13). Borgonzi has helped Indianapolis reach the playoffs in two of the last three seasons (2018 and 2020).
Borgonzi enters his fourth season with Indianapolis as linebackers coach. He has 15 years of coaching experience, including 10 seasons in the NFL with the Colts (2018-20), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-17) and Dallas Cowboys (2011-13). Borgonzi has helped Indianapolis reach the playoffs in two of the last three seasons (2018 and 2020).
The 2020 Indianapolis defense finished in the top-10 in numerous categories, including total defense (332.1 yards per game, eighth), rush defense (90.5 yards per game, second), interception rate (2.67, eighth), takeaways (25, tied-fifth), first downs allowed per game (20.6, eighth), goal to go percentage (70.00, tied-ninth), points per game allowed (22.6, tied-10th) and safeties (three, tied-first). It marked the first time since 1971 that the Colts finished in the top-five in run defense and the first time since 2007 that Indianapolis ranked in the top-10 in total defense. The Colts have finished in the top-10 in run defense in each of the last three seasons, which is the first time the team has accomplished that feat since 1975-77.
Over the last three seasons, Borgonzi has helped develop Darius Leonard into one of the most productive linebackers in the NFL. Since being selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Leonard is a three-time Associated Press All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. His career totals include 416 tackles (268 solo), 26.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 22 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Since 1987, Leonard became just the 10th player in NFL history (first Colts player) to reach 400 career tackles in their first three seasons and tied for the second-fastest player to do so, as he reached the mark in 41 games. Since 2018, he ranks in the top-five in the NFL in total tackles (fourth), solo tackles (third), forced fumbles (fourth) and interceptions (second) among linebackers.
Leonard was named Associated Press First Team All-Pro in 2020 after compiling 132 tackles (86 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was named to his second career Pro Bowl after finishing eighth in the NFL in total tackles. Since 2000, Leonard became just the fourth player in team history to register 100 tackles in each of their first three seasons in the league.
Borgonzi also received strong contributions from Anthony Walker and Bobby Okereke. Walker finished the 2020 season with 91 tackles (64 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception, five passes defensed and one fumble recovery. In his second season, Okereke registered 72 tackles (57 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, one interception, six passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
In 2019, the Indianapolis defense was stout against the run and finished seventh in the league after allowing 97.9 yards per game. It marked the first time that the Colts, who ranked eighth in rush defense in 2018, finished the year ranked in the top-10 in run defense in back-to-back seasons since 1976-77. The Indianapolis defense also ranked in the top-10 in interceptions (15, seventh) and takeaways (23, tied-10th).
Borgonzi helped Walker achieve a career year as he led the team with a single-season career-high 123 tackles (83 solo) while adding 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. Leonard was named Associated Press Second Team All-Pro and was selected to his first career Pro Bowl after compiling 121 tackles (71 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. His five interceptions led all NFL linebackers in 2019. Leonard became just the fifth player in NFL history to register 120-or-more tackles, five-or-more sacks and five-or-more interceptions in a single season. Borgonzi also tutored the rookie Okereke, who played in all 16 games (eight starts) and compiled 58 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also returned an interception for a defensive two-point conversion. Okereke finished in the top-15 in the NFL in total tackles (13th) and solo tackles (14th) among rookies.
In 2018, Borgonzi was part of a Colts team that finished with a 10-6 regular season record, won in the AFC Wild Card Round and had an appearance in the AFC Divisional Round. Indianapolis became the third team in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and make the playoffs. Additionally, the Colts were the second team in NFL history to start a season 1-5 and win a playoff game.
The Colts defense finished 11th in the league in total defense. The unit also ranked eighth in rush defense, which was the team's best mark since 1995 (sixth). Indianapolis finished 10th in the NFL in points allowed and registered the second-most tackles for loss in the league. The Colts were one of only three teams to not allow a 100-yard rusher despite facing five of the top-10 rushers in the NFL. The Indianapolis defense forced at least one turnover in a league-most 15 games, including multiple turnovers in seven games. The Colts defense also forced a turnover in each postseason contest.
Youth was the theme of the Colts' linebacking corps in 2018 as Borgonzi assisted with a group that notably featured four rookies (Matthew Adams, Zaire Franklin, Leonard and Skai Moore) and one second-year player (Walker). The group was spearheaded by Leonard, who finished his rookie season as the NFL leader in total tackles (163) while adding 12.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Leonard was named Associated Press First Team All-Pro and Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Walker contributed with 104 tackles (68 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, four passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery. Leonard and Walker combined for the most tackles (267) by a linebacker duo in the NFL in 2018.
With the Buccaneers, Borgonzi served as defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach for four seasons (2014-17).
In 2017, linebacker Lavonte David led the team with 101 tackles (76 solo) and added 8.0 tackles for loss, one pass defensed, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. David established single-season career highs in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries and led all NFL linebackers in both categories. Fellow linebacker Kwon Alexander finished second on the team with 97 tackles (70 solo) and tallied 7.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. Alexander tied for the most interceptions in the NFL among linebackers.
Borgonzi helped with a 2016 Buccaneers defense that forced 29 takeaways, the third-highest mark in the league, including 17 interceptions, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. The Buccaneers also held opponents to a league-low 34.4 third down percent conversion rate. David was voted as a Pro Bowl alternate while recording 17.0 tackles for loss, tied for the league lead. Alexander led the team in tackles with 145, the fourth-most in the NFL, including a league-best 108 solo tackles.
In 2015, Borgonzi helped a defense that ranked in the top-10 in yards allowed (340.4), while allowing the second-lowest rushing average in the NFL (3.45). David (147 tackles) and Alexander (93 tackles) finished as the top two tacklers on the team. Alexander had the most tackles by any rookie in 2015 and David ranked third in the NFL among all players. David also had three interceptions, which led the Buccaneers and tied for the third-most among NFL linebackers.
The 2014 Tampa Bay defense saw improvements throughout the season, ranking 14th in points allowed per game and net yards allowed per game during the final 10 weeks of the season, after ranking 32nd in each category over the first six weeks, prior to the Buccaneers' Week 7 bye.
Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Borgonzi served three seasons as a coaching assistant for the Dallas Cowboys, working on the defensive side of the ball for his first two years (2011-12) – working with the secondary – before moving to offense in 2013 and helping coach the offensive line. His primary duties included assisting in weekly breakdowns and scouting reports of each opponent, while also working with the scout team during daily practices. In 2013, Borgonzi assisted a Cowboys offense that finished fifth in the NFL in total points scored.
Before the NFL, Borgonzi spent five years coaching at the collegiate level at Harvard (2008-2010) and Syracuse (2006-07).
While at Harvard, Borgonzi served as the assistant defensive secondary coach and helped with the school's recruiting. In 2010, Harvard ranked 16th nationally in total defense. In 2009, the Crimson ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense while three players were named All-Ivy League and cornerback Matthew Hanson earned Rookie of the Year honors.
Borgonzi spent two years at Syracuse as a graduate assistant working with the secondary and defensive line. At Syracuse, he also assisted the team with special teams and recruiting. Borgonzi earned his master's degree in education while working for the Orange.
Borgonzi played linebacker at Amherst College (2001-04) in Amherst, Mass., where he was a three-year starter and named team captain his senior year. He graduated with a degree in law, jurisprudence and social thought.
Borgonzi's brother, Mike, is the director of football operations for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Borgonzi is a native of Everett, Mass., and is married to Alyssa. The couple have a daughter, Gianna, and a son, James.
Coaching Career
2006-2007 - Syracuse - Graduate Assistant
2008-2010 - Harvard - Assistant Secondary
2011-2013 - Dallas Cowboys - Offensive/Defensive Assistant
2014-2017 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Defensive Quality Control/Assistant Linebackers
2018-2021 - Indianapolis Colts - Linebackers