Mike Caldwell enters his first season as the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars in 2022. Caldwell spent the last three seasons (2019-21) as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebackers coach. During that span, the Buccaneers led the NFL in rushing defense (82.5 yards per game allowed) and defensive rushing average (3.72 yards per carry), produced the NFL's third-most takeaways (82), posted the NFL's third-most sacks (142) and allowed the league's ninth-fewest yards per game (334.1).
Under Caldwell's guidance, LB Lavonte David was named Associated Press Second Team All-Pro in 2020 while LB Devin White was named Associated Press Second Team All-Pro in 2020 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021.
In 2021, the Buccaneers defense allowed the NFL's third-fewest rushing yards (92.5 yards per game) and fifth-fewest points per game (20.8). White finished with a team-high 128 tackles, while David finished second with 97 tackles.
In 2020, the Buccaneers finished with a 11-5 record and won Super Bowl LV. White was twice named NFC Defensive Player of the Week during the regular season, finishing the year ranked third in the NFL in solo tackles (97), tied for third in tackles for loss (15) and fifth in total tackles (140) and added 9.0 sacks. David continued his run as one of the league's most consistently productive linebackers, compiling 117 tackles (12 for loss), six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The Buccaneers defense led the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (80.6) and ranked sixth in total yards allowed per game (327.1).
In 2019, Caldwell took over an inside linebacker group led by David and White. David posted his seventh season with 100-or-more tackles and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis as the only two players with at least 1,000 tackles, 20.0 sacks and 10 interceptions through eight seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. White overcame an early-season injury to lead the 2019 rookie class with 7.0 tackles per game and earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in both November and December.
Prior to his time in Tampa Bay, Caldwell spent the 2015-18 seasons working as the assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach with the New York Jets. From 2015-18, the Jets held teams to 4.0 yards per carry, the sixth-lowest figure in the NFL during that span. In Caldwell's first season with the Jets, New York allowed a franchise-low 83.4 rushing yards allowed per game, which ranked second in the NFL. Under Caldwell's guidance, LBs Demario Davis (135 in 2017) and Avery Williamson (120 in 2018) each posted career highs in total tackles.
Before his time with the Jets, Caldwell spent two seasons coaching linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals (2013-14). The Cardinals' 2013 unit led the NFL in run defense (84.4 yards allowed per game) and posted the sixth-best overall defense.
Caldwell began his coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, working first as a training camp intern in 2007 before spending two seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2008-09). He then spent the 2010 season as the Eagles assistant linebackers coach before being elevated to linebackers coach, a position he held for two seasons (2011-12).
An 11-year NFL veteran, Caldwell played with the Cleveland Browns (1993-95), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Arizona Cardinals (1997), Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2001), Chicago Bears (2002) and Carolina Panthers (2003). He attended Middle Tennessee State University, where his collegiate career earned him a spot in the Football Hall of Fame at MTSU.
He and his wife, Sue, have two daughters, Sydnei and Saniah, and a son, Simeon. Sydnei plays basketball at the University of Pennsylvania
