Syracuse demotes Elijah Robinson from DC role to D-line coach
After numerous staff changes Monday, Syracuse announced defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson will be become SU's Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach in 2026. Joe Zhao | Senior Staff Photographer
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Syracuse defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson will return to the program next year, but in a different job. The team announced Tuesday that Robinson is moving to a new role as SU’s co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach, eliminating his former responsibilities as the defensive playcaller.
The Orange’s primary issue over the last two seasons was their defense. They allowed nearly 30 points per game in 2024, including outputs of 41, 41 and 38 points, then surrendered 34.92 points per game this past year — the lowlight being a 70-7 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 22, SU’s fourth-largest loss in program history.
SU ranked as the worst-scoring defense in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season under Robinson.
Syracuse struggled to sack the quarterback during Robinson’s two years calling plays, too. SU finished the 2025 season 108th nationally in pass-rushing grade, per Pro Football Focus, and only tallied 20 sacks through 12 games.
Head coach Fran Brown said before the end of the regular season that Robinson would return in 2026. However, he didn’t specify his role and has decided to make a change.
Brown notably called Robinson out on Oct. 4 following Syracuse’s 31-18 road defeat to SMU. Brown said he didn’t like Robinson’s first half playcalling. The head coach had specific schemes and plays he wanted SU’s defense to run, but Robinson didn’t use them until Brown gave him a halftime pow-wow.
Brown also suggested Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon should have ran the ball more in a game that got out of hand quickly.
“I gotta go back and handle some stuff with our staff,” Brown said following the SMU loss.
After firing special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield, and now in demoting Robinson to SU’s defensive line coach, Brown will search for two new coordinators this offseason. With a talented, youthful core on the Orange’s defense — featuring Demetres Samuel Jr., Chris Peal and Antoine Deslauriers — the position could attract some noteworthy candidates.
