Bryan Cox Bryan Keith Cox ( born February 17 , 1968 ) is a former American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the NFL from 1991 through 2002 . Cox was a three time pro bowler with the Miami Dolphins and was also a member of the New England Patriots club that won Super Bowl XXXVI . He is currently the defensive " front seven " coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Cox generated controversy while a Miami Dolphin in 1993 , when he waved the middle finger s with both hands at fans prior to a road game against the Buffalo Bills . High school and college . Cox was a member of the East St . Louis High School Flyers , where he was coached by Bob Shannon . Cox attended Western Illinois University and was a Mass Communications Major and a letterman in football . In football , he was a four - year letterman and a two - year starter . As a senior , he was named as a First Team All - America selection by the Football Gazzette and was a First Team All - Conference selection . As a junior , he was named the Western Illinois University M . V . P . As a sophomore , Cox played in every game , and finished his sophomore season with 54 tackles , four forced fumbles , 3 fumble recoveries , two interceptions and three blocked kicks . As a freshman , Cox was a reserve nickel - back and finished the season with 30 tackles . National Football League . Cox was drafted by the Dolphins in the 5th round of the 1991 NFL Draft , chosen 113th overall . As a rookie , Cox started 13 games as the Dolphins right outside linebacker , racking up a total of 61 tackles along with two sacks . Miami finished out the season 8 - 8 . In his sophomore campaign Cox blossomed and helped lead the Dolphins to an 11 - 5 record and the AFC Championship game . He made his first pro bowl and was named to the All Pro team after recording 127 tackles , 14 sacks and five forced fumbles . Miami switched to a 4 - 3 defense in 1993 and Cox was moved to right linebacker . The team started out 9 - 2 , but lost their last five to miss the playoffs . Cox again led the team with 122 tackles , four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries . He also collected five sacks and an interception . Cox earned his second Pro Bowl selection in 1994 , starting 16 games at middle linebacker , leading the team with 100 tackles . Miami finished the season 10 - 6 , winning the wildcard game against the Kansas City Chiefs , 27 - 17 before losing the divisional playoff to the San Diego Chargers , 22 - 21 . In 1995 , Cox was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl , and third overall . He again started every game at middle linebacker , finishing the year with a team high 119 tackles , 7 . 5 sacks and three forced fumbles . The Dolphins went 9 - 7 before bowing out in the wildcard round to the Buffalo Bills , 37 - 22 . The defense tied for the AFC lead by allowing only seven rushing touchdowns . Overall , Cox spent five years with the Dolphins playing both outside and middle linebacker , starting 75 out of a possible 78 games . Cox would go on to play seven more seasons in the NFL for the Chicago Bears , the New York Jets , the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints . In a career encompassing 165 games , Cox recorded 764 tackles , tallied 51 . 5 quarterback sacks , caught four interceptions and forced 22 fumbles . Among his most famous plays was a 27 - yard interception - return touchdown against the Patriots in September 1999 while playing with the Jets ; another famous play came with the Patriots in September 2001 in a game against the Indianapolis Colts ; Cox hit receiver Jerome Pathon in the first quarter , a hit that briefly knocked Pathon out . Post - playing career . From 2004 - 2005 he worked as an analyst for TVG Network . He was an assistant defensive line coach for the New York Jets for three seasons ( 2006 – 08 ) under Eric Mangini . After Mangini was fired and became the coach of the Cleveland Browns in January 2009 , he brought Cox with him , where Cox was the defensive line coach . On February 21 , 2011 , Cox was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their pass rush coach . On February 17 , 2012 , Cox was hired to become a defensive assistant at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He was hired the same day as Bill Sheridan .