The Oklahoma State football team is hiring Todd Grantham as its next defensive coordinator.

Grantham, 58, is a veteran coach with 34 years of experience in both college football and the NFL. PokesReports.com first reported the news.

Here are five things to know about Grantham:

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After playing for Virginia Tech until 1988, Grantham returned to the program in 1990 as a defensive ends and inside linebackers coach.

Grantham remained on the staff until 1995. He also served as the defensive tackles coach (1992-1993) and defensive line coach (1994-95).

Grantham worked under then-head coach Frank Beamer, who's the father of South Carolina head coach and former OU assistant head coach Shane Beamer.

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After serving as a defensive line coach at Michigan State (1996-98) under Nick Saban, Grantham got hired as the defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts in 1999.

Indianapolis recorded 96 sacks in the three seasons Grantham was on the staff. This included 56 sacks from 1999-2000, which marked the highest two-year total for the franchise since it moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

Grantham then spent time as a defensive line coach for the Houston Texans (2002-04) before he was hired as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator in 2005. He was ultimately fired after a 2007 season in which Cleveland ranked 30th in the NFL in total yards allowed.

Grantham served as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2008-09 before he returned to the college level.

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Following his time in the NFL, Grantham served as Georgia's defensive coordinator from 2010-13.

The Bulldogs forced 26 takeaways in 2010, which shattered their total of 12 in 2009. They also went from ranking 118th in turnover margin in 2009 to 19th in 2010.

Grantham ultimately left Georgia in 2014 to become the defensive coordinator at Louisville. He helped the Cardinals finish sixth in total defense in 2014 and 18th in 2015.

Grantham later served as the defensive coordinator for Mississippi State (2017) and Florida (2018-21) before he reunited with Saban as a defensive analyst for Alabama (2022).

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Grantham made a brief return to the NFL. He was hired as New Orleans' defensive line coach in February 2023.

But he was also moved to an adviser role this season after the Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen in November.

The Saints are 5-8 this season. They rank 26th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (136), and they're tied for 23rd in total sacks (27).

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Grantham has plenty of work to do at OSU.

The Cowboys went 3-9 this season, including 0-9 in Big 12 play. They allowed conference highs of 500.6 yards and 35.6 points per game under defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, who was fired on Wednesday.

Numerous defensive contributors such as safety Trey Rucker are now out of eligibility. Linebacker Nick Martin also declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, and edge rusher Collin Oliver is expected to do the same after he accepted a Senior Bowl invite.

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What to know about new Oklahoma State football DC Todd Grantham