The Tampa Bay Buccaneers today announced the hiring of inside linebackers coach Mike Caldwell, pass game coordinator Kefense Hynson (Kuh-Fence-A) and defensive line coach Charlie Strong.

Name Title

Mike Caldwell Inside Linebackers Coach

Kefense Hynson Pass Game Coordinator

Charlie Strong Defensive Line Coach

In addition, Tampa Bay announced the following title changes for returning members of the team's coaching staff:

Name Title

Kevin Carberry Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach

George Edwards Pass Game Coordinator

Larry Foote Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach

Jeff Kastl Assistant Tight Ends Coach

Brian Picucci Offensive Line Coach

Jordan Somerville Pass Game Specialist/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach

Caldwell most recently worked as the run game coordinator/linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, following a two-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive coordinator (2022-23). In 2022, the Jaguars defense finished first in the NFL in passes defensed (95) and tied for fourth in takeaways (27) under Caldwell's guidance.

Prior to Jacksonville, Caldwell spent the previous three seasons with the Buccaneers (2019-21) as inside linebackers coach, where he coached Lavonte David to second-team All-Pro recognition and Devin White to both Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors during that span. During his three seasons in this role, Caldwell instructed a linebacker group that played a key part in the NFL's top rush defense over that span, allowing only 82.5 rushing yards per game and 3.72 yards per carry. In 2020, Caldwell coached David and White to a Super Bowl LV title, finishing the season with an 11-5 record and leading the league in rush defense (80.6 rush yards allowed per game) for the second consecutive season. David averaged 112.3 tackles per season with Caldwell as his position coach and contributed 27 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions in that timeframe.

Before his first stint with the Buccaneers, he held defensive roles with the New York Jets (2015-18), Arizona Cardinals (2013-14) and Philadelphia Eagles (2008-2012). Caldwell began his coaching career as a training camp intern for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 before holding multiple roles on their staff from 2008-12. Prior to coaching, the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, native played 11 seasons at linebacker for the Cleveland Browns (1993-95), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Arizona Cardinals (1997), Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2001), Chicago Bears (2002) and Carolina Panthers (2003).

Hynson comes to Tampa Bay from Oregon State, where he spent the previous seven seasons as pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach (2018-24), including a brief stint as interim head coach for the final game of the 2023 season. With his guidance, Oregon State receivers earned All-Pac-12 honors six times. Prior to Oregon State, Hynson held roles at Hawaii (2016-17), Norfolk State (2015), Montana (2012-14), Yale (2009-11), Western Washington (2006-08),

Minnesota State (2005), Quincy (2004) and Willamette (2003). Buccaneers newly named offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard was a player at Yale while Hynson was the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach there.

Strong joins the Buccaneers with 41 years of college coaching experience, highlighted by stints as the head coach at Louisville (2010-2013), Texas (2014-2016), and South Florida (2017-2019). He was twice named Big East Coach of the Year during his time at Louisville in 2010 and 2012 and has been a part of three national championship teams between Florida (2006, 2008) and Alabama (2020). Strong has one year of prior experience at the NFL level, working as assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. Other stops for Strong included: Texas A&M (1985), Southern Illinois (1986-87), Ole Miss (1990), Notre Dame (1995-98), South Carolina (1999-2002), and Miami (2022).

Before his coaching career, the Batesville, Arkansas native was a three-year letter winner (1979-81) at Central Arkansas and was inducted into the Central Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

-BUCCANEERS-