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Jaguars Fire DC Mike Caldwell, Others

January 9th, 2024 at 1:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 9: Changes on the offensive side of the ball have been made as well. Running backs coach Bernie Parmalee and offensive line assistant Todd Washington are out, per a statement from Pederson. The former was fired while the latter did not have his contract renewed, as noted by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

JANUARY 8: Following their late-season collapse, the Jaguars will make a major move. They are firing Mike Caldwell after his second season as defensive coordinator, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reports.

Although the Jaguars struggled on both sides of the ball to close out this disappointing season, Caldwell will be the first domino to fall. The Jags hired the former NFL linebacker after he helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl as linebackers coach, but it is certainly unsurprising to see Jacksonville move forward with a big change.

As should be expected, the changes will not stop at Caldwell. Jacksonville is firing its defensive staff, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. While DVOA placed the Jaguars’ defense 10th overall, the group slipped down the stretch. Jacksonville allowed at least 28 points in four of its final six games — all losses. After an 8-3 start, the team closed what had looked like a promising season at 9-8.

Among the members of Caldwell’s defensive staff: D-line coach Brentson Buckner, pass-game coordinator Deshea Townsend, inside linebackers coach Tony Gilbert, safeties coach Cody Grimm and senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton. The Jags ranked 26th in pass defense. While the team did not make strides on offense after Doug Pederson handed play-calling reins to OC Press Taylor this season, no changes have emerged on that side of the ball yet. ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco adds that three defensive assistants — assistant D-line coach Rory Segrest, outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey and quality control staffer Patrick Reilly — will be retained.

The Jags splurged on both sides of the ball in 2022, allocating big bucks on free agents in Pederson’s first offseason as HC. They also added Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick while following that up with first-round linebacker Devin Lloyd. The Jags signed Foye Oluokun, Foley Fatukasi and Darious Williams in 2022. They extended Roy Robertson-Harris in 2023, largely returning the same cast from a defense that ranked 12th (scoring) and 24th (yardage) last season. Despite Josh Allen‘s contract-year sack surge, the Jags did not improve on that side of the ball as a whole.

DVOA, however, ranked Caldwell’s 2022 defense — additions notwithstanding — 26th. Yet, the Jaguars largely stood pat and ran it back following their AFC South title. The questionable decision burned the team, with Pederson pointing out missed assignments and missed tackles. Derrick Henry submitted a throwback performance Sunday, in what appears to be his Titans finale, by rampaging for 153 yards in a win-and-in game for the Jags. Jacksonville allowed 28 points to a Tennessee team that was previously 0-5 in AFC South play.

This firing means the Jaguars, by the 2024 season, will employ four defensive coordinators in five years. Todd Wash departed after the Doug Marrone firing, while Urban Meyer‘s DC (Joe Cullen) left after the unfit HC’s one-and-done. Caldwell, 52, played 11 NFL seasons and has been an NFL assistant for the past 16 years.

Jaguars Retain Bob Sutton, Make Several Additions To Coaching Staff

February 17th, 2022 at 4:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bob Sutton caught on with the Jaguars during Urban Meyer‘s nine-month run as head coach, but the former defensive coordinator also has a history with Doug Pederson. The Jags will keep Sutton on Pederson’s first staff.

The former Chiefs and Jets DC will stay on as a senior defensive assistant with the Jaguars, helping out Mike Caldwell, who will be a first-time coordinator. The Jags hired Caldwell from the Buccaneers last week. Sutton, 71, worked with Pederson in Kansas City from 2013-15; the two were Andy Reid‘s coordinators during that span.

[RELATED: Jaguars Hire Press Taylor As OC]

Additionally, the Jags announced several new hires. One of them, offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, was believed to have another job lined up. Rather than join the Bills as their O-line coach, Rauscher signed up to hold that same position with the Jags. Rauscher, 36, coached the Vikings’ O-line last season — his first overseeing a position group — and was given permission to explore other jobs after Minnesota changed regimes. The Jags are keeping Todd Washington on staff as assistant O-line coach.

Jacksonville is hiring Heath Farwell as its special teams coordinator. A 10-year NFL vet, Farwell moved into coaching immediately after retiring. He spent the past three years as Buffalo’s ST coordinator; he left that job to join Pederson’s staff. The Jags are bringing in Luke Thompson to be their assistant ST coach. Thompson is a Pederson Philadelphia transplant, having worked as the Eagles’ assistant ST coach during Pederson’s final two seasons in Philly.

Andrew Breiner will work under Mike McCoy as assistant quarterbacks coach; Breiner was with the Eagles during Pederson’s tenure. Chris Jackson is on board as Jacksonville’s wide receivers coach. He comes over from Chicago, having worked with ex-Pederson coworker Matt Nagy for the past four seasons. Caldwell is bringing Cody Grimm with him from Tampa; Grimm will be Jacksonville’s safeties coach. The Jags are also retaining Tony Gilbert, who will be their inside linebackers coach next season. Gilbert was on Doug Marrone‘s final staff and Meyer’s 2021 group.

North Rumors: Richardson, Steelers, Ravens

April 22nd, 2018 at 9:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The $3MM incentive package for Sheldon Richardson will center on the interior defender’s sack production. Richardson’s one-year, $8MM Vikings deal will include a $667K bump if he reaches six sacks, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. Should Richardson register eight sacks, that number spikes to $1.3MM. It rises to $2MM for a 10-sack slate. These benchmarks will be difficult to hit. The former first-round pick has only exceeded six sacks once in five seasons (eight in 2014). Richardson can also earn $500K if he makes the Pro Bowl, which he has done once (in that ’14 season). That will increase to $1MM if a first-team All-Pro nod follows the Pro Bowl acclaim, per Goessling.

Here’s the latest from the North divisions.

Minor Moves: Saturday

August 2nd, 2014 at 9:43pm CST by Rob DiRe

Here are some minor transactions from around the NFL on Saturday:

  • The Rams have waived wideout Jamaine Sherman from injured reserve with an injury settlement, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports.
  • The Seahawks have waived defensive tackle Jesse Williams with the injured designation, tweets The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. The player has cleared waived and will be placed on the team’s injured reserve.

Earlier updates:

Matt Feminis and Ben Levine contributed to this post.

 

Cardinals Announce 15 UDFA Signings

May 12th, 2014 at 6:49pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Cardinals have signed 15 undrafted free agents, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.

Here are all of the Cardinals’ signings:

  • Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
  • Jonathan Brown, LB, Illinois (9K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
  • Glenn Carson, LB, Penn State
  • Chandler Catanzaro, K, Clemson
  • Tim Cornett, RB, UNLV
  • Bruce Gaston, DT, Purdue
  • Kelvin Palmer, OT, Baylor
  • Kelsey Pope, WR, Samford
  • Justin Renfrow, DT, Miami
  • Brandon Sermons, CB, UCLA
  • Kevin Smith, WR, Washington
  • Anthony Steen, OG, Alabama ($12K bonus, per Wilson)
  • Corey Washington, WR, Newberry
  • Todd Washington, CB, Southeastern Louisiana
  • Kadeem Williams, OT, Albany