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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Caldwell_Mike

Mike Caldwell

Inside Linebackers Coach

Biography

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 one of the NFL's most prolific linebacker duos, 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).

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