Jaguars Fire Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell and Assistants
The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and multiple defensive assistants, according to the team.
Jaguars Make Staff Changes
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson has made the decision to fire defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and several defensive assistants. This move comes after the team's disappointing end to the season.
Pederson had initially stated that he would take some time to process the season before making any staff changes, but it seems he made the decision quickly. The news of the firings was announced by the team on Monday night.
"It's not where we want to be and I've got to take all of this into consideration," Pederson said. The Jaguars finished the season with a collapse, losing five of their final six games.
Caldwell's Tenure with the Jaguars
Mike Caldwell was hired as the Jaguars' defensive coordinator in 2022. He had previously served as Tampa's inside linebackers coach under Todd Bowles for three seasons. While the defense showed improvement in some areas in Caldwell's first season, the progress did not continue into 2023.
The Jaguars' defense played a significant role in the team's collapse after starting the season with an 8-3 record. In their final five losses, the defense gave up an average of 29.2 points and 146.8 rushing yards per game.
Despite the struggles, there were some standout performances on defense. Outside linebacker Josh Allen finished tied for second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks, and linebacker Foye Oluokun finished fourth in the league with 173 tackles.
Defense's Performance Against the Titans
In the crucial game against the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars' defense struggled to contain running back Derrick Henry. Henry ran for 153 yards and a touchdown, including a 69-yard run that set up a score. The Titans finished with 175 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
This game highlighted the issues the Jaguars' defense faced throughout the season. They allowed the second-highest rushing total of the year in this game. Overall, the defense finished 17th in scoring, 22nd in total defense, ninth in rushing defense, and 26th in passing defense.
With the firings of Caldwell and the defensive assistants, the Jaguars will be looking for new leadership on defense to address these performance issues and make improvements for the upcoming season.
