Nate Palmer joined the Lobo family in January of 2025, and he serves as linebackers coach for UNM. New Mexico is his first full-time coaching position after spending 2024 as a graduate assistant.
Under Palmer in 2025, UNM's linebacking corps, which was all new to the squad, excelled. Jaxton Eck finished 10th nationally in tackles per game in earning Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. Eck recorded 129 tackles, 6.5 for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a safety. His running mate was Mercury Swaim, who, in his first season as a transfer from the FCS, went from no snaps in the opener to a starter, eventually recording the fourth-most tackles on the team, all while majoring in nuclear engineering.
PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2024): Palmer was a graduate assistant with Northern Illinois, coaching as an assistant linebackers coach. The Huskies in 2024 picked up a historic win over Notre Dame and defeated Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
NIU’s defense was one of the top defenses in the FBS, averaging just 18.5 points per game allowed (14th in the FBS) and totaling 36 sacks. Northern Illinois ranked No. 4 in the NCAA, allowing just 284.6 yards per game.
Palmer came to Northern Illinois after a successful high school coaching career.
PLAYING CAREER – ILLINOIS (2008-10); ILLINOIS STATE (2011-12); GREEN BAY PACKERS (NFL, 2013-15); TENNESSEE TITANS (NFL, 2016-18): Played his first three seasons at Illinois, playing 21 games as a freshman and a sophomore. He recorded nine career tackles with the Illini and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. He transferred to Illinois State, where he was twice named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team. He started all 24 career games for the Redbirds and recorded 117 career tackles, including 71 as a senior.
As a senior, he ranked fifth in the MVFC with 15.0 TFLs and was tied for fourth with 7.5 sacks as Illinois State advanced to the FCS Quarterfinals.
The Green Bay Packers drafted him with the 193rd overall pick in the sixth round. He played in 24 NFL games with Green Bay, recording 17 tackles in eight games in 2013 and a career-best 68 tackles in all 16 games in 2015. He signed with Tennessee and played in 24 games over two seasons, recording 23 tackles to give him 108 for his four-season NFL career.
| Nate Palmer Profile |
| Birthday: 9/23/1989 |
| Hometown: Chicago, Ill. |
| Alma Mater: Illinois State, 2013 (B.A.S., Health Services) |
| Playing Experience: Illinois (2008-10); Northern Illinois (2011-12); Green Bay Packers (NFL, 2013-15); Tennessee Titans (NFL, 2016-18). |
| Family: Single. |
| Coaching Experience | |
| 2025 | New Mexico (Assistant Linebackers) |
| 2024 | Northern Illinois (Assistant Linebackers) |
| Postseason Coached (corresponding to the season, not the actual year of the playoff/bowl game): | |
| 2025 | Rate Bowl |
| 2024 | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl |