{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Tyler Knight |image= |caption= |current_team=Omaha Beef |number=<!-- 25 --> |position= Assistant head coach & Defensive coordinator <!-- Linebacker --> |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1984|12|22}} |birth_place=Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |death_date= |death_place= |height_ft = 6 |height_in = 0 |weight_lbs = 225 |high_school = Little Rock (AR) McClellan Magnet |college=Mississippi Valley State |undraftedyear=2007 |pastteams= * Arkansas Diamonds ({{IFL Year|2010}}) * Sioux Falls Storm ({{IFL Year|2011}}) * Kansas City Command ({{AFL Year|2012}}) * Sioux Falls Storm ({{IFL Year|2013|2017}}) * Sioux City Bandits ({{CIF Year|2022}}) | pastcoaching = * Omaha Beef ({{NAL Year|2024}}–present)<br> Assistant head coach & Defensive coordinator |highlights= * 2× All-SWAC (2005, 2006) * SWAC Defensive Player of the Year (2005) * 5× United Bowl champion (2011, 2013–2016) * 2× IFL Defensive Player of the Year ({{IFL Year|2013}}, {{IFL Year|2014}}) * 3× 1st Team All-IFL ({{IFL Year|2013}}, {{IFL Year|2014}}), {{IFL Year|2016}}) * IFL's Top 10 Players #2 (2013) * 2× 2nd Team All-IFL ({{IFL Year|2015}}, {{IFL Year|2017}}) |aflstatlabel1=Tackles |aflstatvalue1=20 |aflstatlabel2=Sacks |aflstatvalue2=1.0 |aflstatlabel3=Pass Breakups |aflstatvalue3=3 |afl=11978 }} '''Tyler Knight''' (born December 22, 1984) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Mississippi Valley State, and currently plays for the Sioux City Bandits.
==Early life== Knight prepped at McClellan Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mysaline.com/m/discussion?id=873760%3ATopic%3A182608 |title=McClellan’s Tyler Knight is a Superman for the Arkansas Diamonds |author=Shelli Russell |date=April 12, 2010 |publisher=My Saline |work=www.mysaline.com |accessdate=January 6, 2014}}</ref>
==College career== Knight attended Mississippi Valley State University after high school. After his junior season in 2005, Knight was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Defensive Player of the Year, earning 1st Team All-SWAC honors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2249707 |title=Hampton, Grambling have dominating seasons |author=Donald Hunt |date=December 7, 2005 |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |work=ESPN |access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> Knight was picked as the preseason 2006 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mvsu.edu/athletics/football/article.php?entryID=1041 |title=Nelson, Knight Named Preseason POY |date=July 28, 2006 |publisher=Mississippi Valley State University |work=www.mvsu.edu |accessdate=January 4, 2014}}</ref> but couldn't reclaim the title, but he was still named First Team All-SWAC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/sport/iacollege/printer_1229965.php |title=Wallace and Thomas highlight All-SWAC Football Teams |date=December 5, 2006 |publisher=monstersandcritics.com |work=www.monstersandcritics.com |accessdate=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108013133/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/sport/iacollege/printer_1229965.php |archivedate=January 8, 2014 |df= }}</ref>
==Professional career==
===Arkansas Diamonds=== In 2010, Knight began playing with the Arkansas Diamonds of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Knight helped the Diamonds to an 11–3 regular season record, and a berth in the Intense Conference Finals, where they were defeated 53–42 by the Billings Outlaws.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/11/1089102_dixon-passes-billings-into-ifl.html |title=Dixon passes Billings into IFL title game |date=July 11, 2010 |publisher=Tri-City Herald |work=www.tri-cityherald.com |accessdate=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107031206/http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/11/1089102_dixon-passes-billings-into-ifl.html |archivedate=January 7, 2014 |df= }}</ref>
===Sioux Falls Storm=== In 2011, Sioux Falls Storm signed Knight. Knight had 104 tackles, leading the IFL, and helping the Storm win the United Bowl.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goifl.com/news/news-archive/76-sioux-falls-storm/1208-storm-defense-adds-some-thump |title=Storm Defense Adds Some Thump |publisher=Indoor Football League |work=www.goifl.com |accessdate=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140107054451/http://www.goifl.com/news/news-archive/76-sioux-falls-storm/1208-storm-defense-adds-some-thump |archivedate=January 7, 2014 |df= }}</ref>
===Kansas City Command=== After a great 2011 season, Knight signed with the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League (AFL). At the conclusion of the 2012 season, the Command folded.
===Return to Sioux Falls=== Knight returned to Sioux Falls in 2013. Knight lead the Storm to yet another title, and was named the IFL Defensive Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksfy.com/story/24114814/storm-announce-first-player-signing |title=Storm Announce First Player Signing |author=Erik Thorstenson |date=December 2, 2013 |publisher=WorldNow and KSFY |work=www.ksfy.com |accessdate=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106230639/http://www.ksfy.com/story/24114814/storm-announce-first-player-signing |archivedate=January 6, 2014 |df= }}</ref> In 2016, Knight was named a Second Team All-IFL selection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/2016-all-ifl-teams-announced/n-5174395 |title=2016 ALL-IFL Teams Announced |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |accessdate=July 1, 2016}}</ref> Knight was named Second Team All-IFL in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://goifl.com/sports/fball/2016-17/releases/20170628k60rfh |title=IFL Announces 2017 All-IFL Teams |date=June 28, 2017 |publisher=Indoor Football League |work=www.goifl.com |accessdate=June 29, 2017}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Omaha Beef=== On January 10, 2024, Knight was hired as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL).<ref>{{cite web|title=***BREAKING NEWS*** Omaha Beef Announce New Defensive Coordinator - Assistant Head Coach |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=756979669807052&set=a.618911343613886 |website=facebook.com|date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{2016 United Bowl}} {{IFL Defensive Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Tyler}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils football players Category:Arkansas Diamonds (indoor football) players Category:Sioux Falls Storm players Category:Kansas City Command players Category:Sportspeople from North Little Rock, Arkansas Category:Players of American football from Little Rock, Arkansas