Gophers hire former Vikings, Packers linebacker Bryce Paup as defensive line coach

Northern Iowa assistant coach Bryce Paup, who played one season with the Vikings during an 11-year NFL career, will join the Gophers' staff as defensive line coach, Sports Illustrated reported Friday.

Paup, 48, is a Northern Iowa graduate who has coached at his alma mater since 2013. An all-America outside linebacker for the Panthers, he was chosen by Green Bay in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL draft and played five seasons with the Packers. Paup also played for Buffalo and Jacksonville and had his best NFL season in 1995, when he led the league with 17.5 sacks and was named the NFL's defensive player of the year.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Paup played for the Vikings in 2000, recording two sacks while playing in 10 games. As defensive line coach at Northern Iowa, he has developed players such as Xavier Williams, a defensive tackle who recently completed his second NFL season with Arizona, and Karter Schult, an all-America defensive end who was the Missouri Valley Conference's defensive player of the year in 2016.

Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel tweeted the news Friday, citing an unidentified source.

RACHEL BLOUNT