While Sacramento was recovering from their football hangover that was the Super Bowl, the Sacramento Mountain Lions made Martin Bayless defensive coordinator on Tuesday.

In 2010, Bayless was the special teams coordinator as well as the defensive backs coach for Sacramento. The previous year Bayless was the defensive backs coach for the California Redwoods.

Bayless played 13 years at Safety in the NFL (1984-1996) and was voted San Diego Chargers Man of the Year in 1990 and 1991 as well as the Kansas City Chiefs NFL Man of the Year in his final season as a pro.

After his playing days Bayless spent some time in the Buffalo Bills’ front office as the director of player development in 1998. Since then he has moved to coaching, where he has coached at every level; from High School, to college, to NFL Europe.

Last season Bayless took care of two important parts of the Mountain Lions staff. Although he might not think so, there will be a lot more pressure on him.

“Martin Bayless has been on our staff for the two previous years and has an outstanding understanding of the UFL,” said Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green. “With 13 years as an NFL player, coaching experience in the NFL and his years in NFL Europe, Martin is ideally suited to handle these added responsibilities.”

Bayless is appreciative of the opportunity and see’s a lot of potential in the UFL.

The UFL has definitely been a great developer of players and also coaches,” Bayless said. “People keep using the comparison of NFL Europe. There are a lot of talented people on all levels, whether they are coaches, players, PR directors, strength and conditioning coaches, looking for opportunities to grow in the business. This league has given me an opportunity to grow as a coach.”

Bayless was a safety in the NFL, playing for St. Louis, Buffalo, San Diego, Kansas City and Washington. He played in 192 NFL games, starting 153 and making 1,186 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 12 interceptions. He was a star at Bowling Green in college and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1989. His 27 career interceptions at Bowling Green rank second in NCAA history.

It will be year no. 14 for Martin Bayless as the coach, but no year as important as the one that precedes him.