FAMU football’s Quinn Gray adds Sam Madison to staff, former Dolphins star

Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. has added another assistant to his inaugural Florida A&M football coaching staff.

One that’s familiar to Tallahassee and Miami Dolphins fanatics.

Sam Madison Jr. is the Rattlers’ new cornerbacks coach. It was the position he played in the National Football League for 12 seasons from 1997 to 2008, nine with the Dolphins and three with the New York Giants.

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“Who else would you rather coach your corners? To have him as a part of the staff brings a wealth of knowledge and different experiences,” Gray told the Tallahassee Democrat at FAMU’s spring football practice on Thursday, Feb. 25.

“He’s coached on the NFL and college level. His playing experience as well is going to lean towards giving these kids what they need from a standpoint of playing the position.”

Madison appeared at Wednesday, Feb. 25’s 220 Quarterback Club luncheon with Gray and his FAMU football assistants.

Madison was a four-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection, all with the Dolphins, while playing opposite of Patrick Surtain Sr., Florida State’s former defensive backs coach.

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In 1999, he was the NFL’s co-leader in interceptions, picking off opposing quarterbacks seven times. He shared the honor with James Hasty (Kansas City Chiefs), Troy Vincent (Philadelphia Eagles), and Rod Woodson (Baltimore Ravens).

Madison, 51, was a starter for the 2007-2008 season’s Super Bowl champions, the Giants, who pulled off a 17-14 upset against the undefeated Tom Brady-led New England Patriots in Glendale, Arizona.

Before his award-winning NFL career, Madison had already been intertwined with the Orange and Green. The Monticello native starred on the football field for the FAMU Developmental Research School Baby Rattlers. He was also a letterman for basketball, baseball, and track and field.

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Madison’s football talents landed him a scholarship to play at the University of Louisville, where he became, where he became an All-American talent during his four-year stint from 1992-1996. He’s a member of the Louisville Cardinals’ Ring of Honor.

The Dolphins picked Madison in the second round, 44th overall, of the 1997 NFL Draft. He was inducted into the franchise’s Walk of Fame in 2014.

Madison has NFL coaching experience as a secondary and cornerbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2019 to 2021. He was a staff member when the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium to conclude the 2019-2020 NFL season.

Madison also spent 2022 to 2023 on the Dolphins staff as a cornerbacks coach and pass game specialist.

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“To be able to add a coach of that quality at this point is nothing short of amazing,” Gray said of FAMU’s new cornerbacks coach. “We’re happy to have him and looking forward to the work he’s going to put in.”

FAMU football completed its second day of spring football training camp under first-year head coach Gray on Thursday. The Rattlers’ annual Orange and Green Spring Game is scheduled for Friday, April 3, at 6 p.m. on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

The 2026 regular season begins when the Rattlers host the Albany State Golden Rams at Bragg on Aug. 29.

FAMU football’s 2026 coaching staff

• Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., Head Coach

• Toriano Morgan, Assistant Head Coach, Running Backs Coach, High School Recruiting Coordinator

• Nicholas Sewak, Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach

• Ryan Lewis Sr., Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach

• Elijah Haggard, Special Teams Coordinator and Interior Defensive Line Coach

• Reid Sanders, Quarterbacks Coach

• Ron Dugans, Wide Receivers Coach and Pro Scout Liaison

• Casey Warming, Tight Ends Coach and Transfer Portal-Junior College Recruiting Coordinator

• Dahon Mixon, Defensive Ends Coach

• Sam Madison Jr., Cornerbacks Coach

• Chris Cash, Safeties and Nickelbacks Coach

• Mikey Victor, Defensive Quality Control and Nickelbacks Coach

• Orlando McKinley Jr., Assistant Special Teams Coach and Defensive Backs Coach

• Nay’Ron Jenkins, Defensive Graduate Assistant

• Brian Norris Jr., Defensive Graduate Assistant

• Billy Rolle, Player Development and Director of High School Relations

• Kennedy Marshall, Director of On-Campus Recruiting

• David Eggleston, Recruiting Graduate Assistant

• Brendan Deanda, Student Offensive Assistant

• Larry Williams, Director of Football Operations/Chief of Staff

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Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football’s Quinn Gray hires Sam Madison to staff, former NFL star