He was an All-City running back and defensive back at Lowell High School, helping to lead the Cardinals to the city championship in his senior season of 1978.
Coaching career
Byrd began his coaching career in 2003 as a volunteer with the St. Louis Rams. He was promoted to assistant secondary coach in 2005. On February 20, 2006, Byrd was hired by the Chicago Bears. In 2007, he served as the assistant defensive backs coach after holding the position of defensive quality control coach in his first year with the team. Byrd was promoted to assistant defensive backs/safeties coach on January 16, 2008. Byrd was fired on January 19, 2013.[2] He became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerbacks coach in 2014. He was fired following the 2015 NFL season. On February 7, 2017, the Buffalo Bills hired Byrd to oversee the team's defensive backs.[3] He left the job in January and he is coached the defensive backs at the University of Illinois.[4]