While we await an official announcement from the team, it’s being widely reported that the Jaguars are closing in on an agreement to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive line coach Mike Caldwell the new defensive coordinator under recently hired coach Doug Pederson.
Caldwell has a 14-year career as an NFL assistant coach, working with Pederson when both were assistants in Philadelphia before stops with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Bucs. He was a part of a Super Bowl-winning team last season with head coach Bruce Arians, who he also worked with in Arizona.
Ahead of that game, Arians — who has built a reputation for lobbying on behalf of his assistants — had positive things to say about Caldwell’s impact.
“Mike’s done a great job… he’s a hell of a coach,” Arians said. “He should be a coordinator… But Mike has done a fantastic job, he’s really good with his players. They’re super prepared.”
Buccaneers Head Coach, Bruce Arians, on the job Mike Caldwell has done this year and what his future looks like in the NFL:#BlueRaiders | #EATT | #MiddleMade | #SuperBowlLV pic.twitter.com/EVVFRc6N8e
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) February 1, 2021
But if you don’t take Arians’ word for it, maybe you’ll listen to one of the players he coached directly. Linebacker Devin White, whose rookie season was also Caldwell’s first in Tampa, has since become a one-time Pro Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro. He echoed the sentiment from Arians.
“Coach Caldwell, out of all the coaches I’ve ever played for, he’s been the most meaningful and most impactful coach that I ever had,” White said. “It all starts with him being a student of the game because coach Caldwell played 11 years in the league, and he’s been in every situation… This is my first time ever having a coach to coach me that has also played the game. I’ve never had that type of coach/player interaction before, and I’m so thankful for it.
“I swear, we get better every day when we walk up on the practice field.”
Buccaneers inside linebacker, Devin White (@DevinWhite__40) on the impact Blue Raider Hall of Famer, Coach Mike Caldwell, has had on him as a player:#BlueRaiders | #EATT | #MiddleMade | #SuperBowlLV pic.twitter.com/RmmB6S8PHU
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) February 1, 2021
White added that Caldwell is willing to work with anyone who takes the initiative to improve, as he did when White wanted to work on zone-dropping.
“He don’t mind putting in the time with you,” White said. “Because if you want to be great, he’s going to help push you there. You’ve got some people, when it’s time to get out of the building they’re ready to get out of the building. But coach Caldwell, he’s willing to go above and beyond to help me be the greatest… I really appreciate him and I’m really thankful that he’s my coach.”
It’s hard not to be excited about the prospect of Caldwell leading this defense after listening to the high praise he received from his employer and top player. He may lack the experience as a defensive coordinator, but there’s a lot to like about this move for Jacksonville.
