Raiders' Mike Caldwell is Bringing Valuable Experience
The Las Vegas Raiders revealed their complete coaching staff for the 2024 season on Friday, and on it was former Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell.
Caldwell will serve as the Raiders defensive running-game coordinator and linebackers coach. Over the last two seasons, he served as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In his first season as defensive coordinator (2022), his unit finished 12th in the league in points allowed per game at 20.6.
Before Jacksonville, Caldwell served three seasons as inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won a Super Bowl title.
That followed Caldwell's four seasons as inside linebacker and assistant head coach for the New York Jets. Before joining their staff, he spent two seasons as an inside linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
Caldwell's NFL coaching career began with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008, where he coached under now-Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid. He spent his first two seasons as a defensive quality control coach before becoming assistant linebacker coach for the 2010 season and then linebacker coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Before his coaching career, Caldwell was an NFL linebacker for 11 seasons (1993-2004), making 49 starts in 159 games. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
After three seasons in Cleveland, Caldwell had stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Cardinals, Eagles, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.
Caldwell's years of coaching NFL linebackers give the Raiders quite an advantage, especially with a linebacker group on the rise.
Raiders linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo each come off career seasons, and Caldwell's expertise should only help the unit take the next step toward becoming one of the best in the NFL.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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