Now in his 16th year of coaching and his eighth in the NFL, Mel Tucker joined the Jaguars coaching staff on January 24, 2009. He is in his fourth season as defensive coordinator for the Jaguars, and his first as assistant head coach. Tucker served as interim head coach for the final five games of the 2011 season after being named to the post on November 29.
Now in his 16th year of coaching and his eighth in the NFL, Mel Tucker joined the Jaguars coaching staff on January 24, 2009. He is in his fourth season as defensive coordinator for the Jaguars, and his first as assistant head coach. Tucker served as interim head coach for the final five games of the 2011 season after being named to the post on November 29.
The Jaguars improved defensively from 28th in 2010 to sixth in 2011, the second-largest improvement in the NFL, and improved in nearly every statistical category from the previous season. In 2011 Tucker’s defense allowed 313.0 yards per game, the fewest since 2006, and ranked ninth in rushing yards per game (104.2), eighth in passing (208.8), second in fewest completions of 20-plus yards (43), third in fewest plays of 20-plus yards (51), second in most three-and-out drives (57) and third in first downs allowed per game (16.8).
The unit ranked in the top 10 in 16 of the 17 weeks in 2011 despite using 14 different starting lineups in 16 games because of injuries. Only five players started all 16 games on defense and only eight players played in all 16 games. The unit lost two starting cornerbacks, a starting linebacker and starting defensive end in consecutive weeks to season-ending injuries.
The 2010 defense utilized eight different starting combinations in the first nine weeks. Just five players started all 16 games on defense, and nine different players made starts in the secondary over the course of the season. Despite the turnover, the defense improved in sack production, from 14 the year before to 26.
In his first year with the Jaguars in 2009, Tucker saw 21 different players make starts including four rookies. Among those rookies were two 16-game starters who were drafted in the third round in cornerback Derek Cox and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. The defensive unit had the same starting lineup in consecutive games only once in 2009.
Tucker coached for four seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2005-08), serving as defensive backs coach for three seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2008. Under Tucker’s guidance the Browns ranked fifth in the NFL from 2005-08 with 73 interceptions and allowed the fourth-fewest completions of 25-plus yards (78).
The 2008 Browns defense ranked 14th in NFL pass defense (204.6) and tied for third with 23 interceptions. The defense finished with 31 takeaways, tied for the third-most in the NFL. Tucker was responsible for the development of two young safeties in 2007 in Sean Jones and Brodney Pool, and two rookie cornerbacks who made an immediate impact. 2007 second-round pick Eric Wright tied for sixth in the NFL in 2008 with five interceptions while Jones had four interceptions.
In 2006 the Browns secondary was depleted by injuries, yet ranked 15th in the NFL in pass defense. The unit lost starters Daylon McCutcheon in training camp and Gary Baxter in week seven, and Leigh Bodden missed seven games. Jones and Daven Holly tied for the team lead with five interceptions apiece. In his first season with the Browns, Tucker’s secondary unit ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense.
Prior to joining the Browns, Tucker spent eight seasons coaching on the collegiate level. He spent four seasons on Jim Tressel’s staff at Ohio State, coaching defensive backs and serving as co-defensive coordinator during the 2004 season. Two of Tucker’s Ohio State players, strong safeties Michael Doss and Will Allen, earned first-team All-America honors, while cornerback Chris Gamble was a second-team All-America selection.
Tucker, 40, began his coaching career at Michigan State as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban from 1997-98. He spent the 1999 season as defensive backs coach at Miami (Ohio) before serving in the same capacity at Louisiana State in 2000 under Saban.
Tucker was a standout basketball and football player at Cleveland Heights High School. He was a four-year letterman as a defensive back at the University of Wisconsin (1992-95), graduating in 1995 with a degree in agricultural business management. His father, Melvin (“Mel”), was a standout football and basketball player at Toledo and is a member of the Toledo University Athletic Hall of Fame. Tucker and his wife, Jo-Ellyn, have two sons, Joseph and Christian.
COACHING BACKGROUND: Michigan State 1997-98, Miami (Ohio) 1999, Louisiana State 2000, Ohio State 2001-04, Cleveland Browns 2005-08, Jacksonville Jaguars 2009-12.
