Mike Priefer - Special Teams Coordinator - Staff Directory - University of North Carolina Athletics

Staff Directory

Mike Priefer

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator
Phone:
919-966-2575

Longtime college and NFL assistant Mike Priefer joined Bill Belichick's Tar Heel staff as special teams coordinator in 2025.

Priefer comes to North Carolina after more than two decades of professional coaching experience. Most recently, he completed a four-year stint in 2022 as special teams coordinator with the Cleveland Browns. He worked as an assistant special teams coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2002), New York Giants (2003-05) and special teams coordinator in and Kansas City Chiefs (2006-08), Denver Broncos (2009-10) and Minnesota Vikings (2011-18). While with the Vikings, he earned recognition as the 2011 NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year in a league-wide vote.

Priefer also has worked as a college assistant at Northern Illinois (2000-01), VMI (1999), Youngstown State (1997-98) and Navy (1994-96). His father, Chuck Priefer, was an NFL coach and special teams coordinator.

Priefer’s Year-by-Year Coaching History
1994-1996: Navy (Graduate Assistant)
1997-1998: Youngstown State (Special Teams Coordinator, Offensive Tackles and Tight Ends Coach)
1999: VMI (Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach)
2000-2001: Northern Illinois (Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Tackles Coach)
2002: Jacksonville Jaguars (Assistant Special Teams Coordinator)
2003-2005: New York Giants (Assistant Special Teams Coordinator)
2006-2008: Kansas City Chiefs (Special Teams Coordinator)
2009-2010: Denver Broncos (Special Teams Coordinator)
2011-2018: Minnesota Vikings (Special Teams Coordinator)
2019-2022: Cleveland Browns (Special Teams Coordinator)
2025-Present: North Carolina (Special Teams Coordinator)