Tag: Caldwell

Jan 18, 2020; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Team West head coach Ben Steele (left) and Team East head coach Mike Caldwell (right) shake hands after the game at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Jaguars preparing to hire Mike Caldwell as DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars are working toward hiring Mike Caldwell as their new defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old Caldwell spent the past three seasons as inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Overall, Caldwell has spent the past 14 seasons as an NFL assistant. He had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (2008-12), Arizona Cardinals (2013-14) and New York Jets (2015-18).

Caldwell was the assistant head coach with the Jets under Todd Bowles, whom he also worked under the past three seasons in Tampa Bay.

Caldwell was an NFL linebacker for 11 seasons from 1993-2003 and played for the Cleveland Browns (1993-95), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Cardinals (1997), Eagles (1998-2001), Chicago Bears (2002) and Carolina Panthers (2003). He played in 159 games with 49 starts.

In 1999, he was an Eagles teammate of new Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson, who started nine games at quarterback that season.

Caldwell and Pederson were both assistant coaches on Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia from 2009-12.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Josh McCown (18) passes the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Texans interview Jim Caldwell, Josh McCown for coaching gig

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Houston Texans said Friday that they interviewed former NFL coach Jim Caldwell and current NFL quarterback Josh McCown for their head coach opening.

Caldwell has served as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions, while McCown finished 2020 as a player for the Texans and is still listed on the roster. He didn’t see any action.

“The Houston Texans have continued discussions about the vacant Head Coach position with Jim Caldwell and Josh McCown,” the Texans said on Twitter.

The Texans previously announced that they have interviewed Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley.

The Texans began the 2020 season with Bill O’Brien as coach before dismissing him after a 0-4 start. Romeo Crenell finished the 4-12 season as interim coach.

Caldwell, 66, compiled a 62-50 record in seven seasons with the Colts (2009-11) and Lions (2014-17). He guided the Colts to a 14-2 record in his first season and the squad reached the Super Bowl before losing to the New Orleans Saints.

Caldwell was 26-22 with two postseason appearances with the Colts and 36-28 with two postseason appearances with the Lions. He didn’t coach in the NFL in 2020.

McCown, 41, has spent time as a high school assistant coaching his sons in Charlotte, N.C., but has no NFL coaching experience.

The Texans signed him off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad in early November and he finished the season with Houston.

McCown was in position meetings with disgruntled quarterback Deshaun Watson. He reportedly got along well with Watson so perhaps the franchise views him as someone who can repair the relationship between Watson and upper management.

McCown has played for 10 different teams since entering the NFL in 2002. He has started 76 of 102 games he has appeared in.

He had a record of 23-53 as a starter and passed for 17,731 yards, 98 touchdowns and 82 interceptions. His best season came in 2017 with the New York Jets when he established career highs of 2,926 yards and 18 touchdowns while being intercepted nine times in 13 games, all starts.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2019; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) receives oxygen on the sideline during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars GM re-engages Ngakoue amidst agent switch

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell reconnected with holdout defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who is in the midst of switching agents.

Ngakoue, 25, is holding out and vowed not to return to the team in a contract standoff that began when Ngakoue was designated a franchise player in March. The franchise tag restricts players from leaving in free agency without granting the team refusal rights to either match any offer or accept compensation in return.

Ngakoue said he wanted to be traded, following defensive standouts Jalen Ramsey (Rams), A.J. Bouye (Broncos) and Calais Campbell (Ravens) out of Jacksonville via trade.

Thus far, the Jaguars have been hesitant to accept trade offers, reportedly asking for multiple first-round picks to part with Ngakoue.

On Tuesday, Caldwell confirmed he renewed dialogue with Ngakoue.

“You’d have to talk to him. I’m very cautious of speaking for him,” Caldwell said. “He and I have been in contact the last couple days, but I think that is for him to discuss. He’s played his contract out. He has the right to do what’s best for him and his family. So, I’m going to defer any of his future questions to him, and try to keep our conversations between he and I.”

Ngakoue cannot be fined or disciplined as he has yet to sign the franchise tender for the 2020 season and is technically not under contract.

Ngakoue fired his agent and is in a five-day window during which his representation cannot be disclosed. Caldwell wouldn’t say whether the change in agents could help the Jaguars mend fences with the defensive end.

“I don’t have a feel for that one way or the other,” he said. “I think, like I said earlier … I’m going to not speak for Yan, out of respect for him. He’s earned the right; he played his contract out, he played four years. He’s earned the right to do what’s best for him and his family. Obviously, he’s a guy that we know what he brings to the table. His coaches love him. His teammates love him. We love his energy. The fan base loves him. Ideally, we would love to have him here, but I’ll let him speak on his behalf of what’s going on, and I know he’s making some calculated decisions.”

–Field Level Media