Report: Jaguars to Hire Ex-LSU DC Matt House As Linebackers Coach

The Jaguars are starting to add to Doug Pederson's defensive staff after hiring Ryan Nielsen.

The Jacksonville Jaguars cleaned house on the defensive side of the ball after the 2023 season. This week, they started to reload. 

A few days after the official hiring of former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to lead the defense, the Jaguars have reportedly found an assistant to join the fold. 

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, former LSU defensive coordinator Matt House will join the Jaguars' staff as linebackers coach. House has spent the last two seasons with LSU, leading their defense under Brian Kelly.

The #Jaguars are hiring Matt House as linebackers coach, per source.

House is highly regarded around the league, having been the #Chiefs LBs coach from 2019-2021. He was most recently LSU’s DC the past two seasons as well, helping the Tigers post back-to-back 10-win seasons.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2024

Before joining LSU, House spent three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs as linebackers coach. During this time, House served on the staff of Andy Reid, giving him a potential connection to Doug Pederson since Pederson is a member of the Reid tree. 

Another connection House has with the Jaguars is outside linebacker Josh Allen. From 2016-2018, House was on Kentucky's staff, first as inside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator and then secondly as defensive coordinator, including in Allen's breakout final season before he became a top-10 pick.

Pederson lamented missed assignments and missed tackles on the defensive side through the Jaguars' 1-5 streak over the last six games. This culminated in the Jaguars allowing 28 points to the Tennessee Titans in their season-ending loss on Sunday, including 21 first-half points and over eight yards per carry.

Only three defensive coaches remain from the Jaguars' 2023 staff after Pederson fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and seven other defensive assistants, including linebackers coach Tony Gilbert: Outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey, assistant defensive line coach Rory Segrest and defensive quality control coach Patrick Reilly.