The Bucs introduced a number of modifications to their teaching employees on Friday. The most important revelation was the re-hiring of Mike Caldwell, who will function the workforce’s inside linebackers coach as soon as once more. Caldwell joined Tampa Bay’s teaching employees with Todd Bowles when Bowles was the defensive coordinator below Bruce Arians in 2019. Caldwell helped the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV in 2020 and left after the 2021 season to grow to be the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville for 2022-23.
Larry Foote had been serving because the workforce’s inside linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator since Caldwell’s departure in 2021. Previous to that, he served as Tampa Bay’s exterior linebackers coach from 2019-2021 the place he helped develop Shaq Barrett right into a two-time Professional Bowler.
Bucs go sport coordinator George Edwards and head coach Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In 2019, Barrett’s first season with the Bucs, he set the franchise single-season sack file with 19.5 sacks, which led the league that yr. Jason Pierre-Paul additionally had a Professional Bowl season below Foote’s tutelage in 2020 with a team-leading 9.5 sacks.
This can be a welcomed transfer as all the exterior linebacker room underwhelmed final yr with a mixed 12 sacks below George Edwards, who coached the place for the previous two seasons. Edwards is now not a place coach in Tampa Bay and has been moved to the function of go sport coordinator on protection.
Edwards had come below fireplace from Pewter Report this previous season for the failure to develop younger exterior linebackers like Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, Jose Ramirez and Markees Watts.
Foote, who beforehand held that function along with teaching inside linebackers, will now be the run sport coordinator on protection. Departed defensive position coach Kacy Rodgers had that title final yr.
Mike Caldwell Has His Fingers Full In Return To Bucs
Mike Caldwell is a veteran inside linebackers coach and his expertise can be put to good use in 2025 in his return to Tampa Bay. The Bucs might or might not have 35-year outdated Lavonte David again this season relying on whether or not he desires to retire or preserve enjoying. The Bucs are anticipated to maneuver on from free agent Ok.J. Britt, who was the opposite starter for many of the yr.
Bucs ILBs coach Mike Caldwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
SirVocea Dennis returns and will contend for a beginning job, however has solely performed in a handful video games in his two years in Tampa Bay because of damage. Deion Jones and Antonio Grier Jr. are the opposite linebackers on the roster and the workforce might want to considerably improve the place this offseason in free company or the 2025 NFL Draft – or each.
Caldwell most just lately labored because the run sport 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 protection completed first within the NFL in passes defensed (95) and tied for fourth in takeaways (27) below Caldwell’s steering.
Previous to Jacksonville, Caldwell spent the earlier three seasons with the Buccaneers (2019-21) as inside linebackers coach, the place he coached David to second-team All-Professional recognition and Devin White to each Professional Bowl and second-team All-Professional honors throughout that span. Throughout his three seasons on this function, Caldwell instructed a linebacker group that performed a key half within the NFL’s prime rush protection over that span, permitting solely 82.5 speeding yards per sport and three.72 yards per carry.
In 2020, Caldwell coached David and White to a Tremendous Bowl LV title, ending the season with an 11-5 file and main the league in rush protection (80.6 rush yards allowed per sport) for the second consecutive season. David averaged 112.3 tackles per season with Caldwell as his place coach and contributed 27 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed, eight compelled fumbles, 4.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries and two interceptions in that timeframe.
Earlier than 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 started his teaching profession as a coaching camp intern for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 earlier than holding a number of roles on their employees from 2008-12. Previous to teaching, the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, native performed 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).
Bucs Announce Different Teaching Strikes
Bucs DL Coach Charlie Robust – Picture by: USA Right this moment
The Bucs formally introduced the hiring of recent defensive position coach Charlie Robust on Friday. He replaces Kacy Rodgers, who took the same place in Detroit as his contract was up on the finish of the yr. Pewter Report had beforehand reported that information.
Tampa Bay additionally introduced the hiring of recent go sport coordinator on offense, Kefense Hynson, who replaces Josh Grizzard in that function on offense. Pewter Report had additionally beforehand reported that information. Grizzard was promoted from go sport coordinator to offensive coordinator this offseason with Liam Coen taking the top teaching job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The workforce additionally made the promotion of Kevin Carberry to run sport coordinator/offensive line coach and Brian Picucci to full-time offensive line coach official. Picucci was the workforce’s assistant offensive line coach final yr. Jeff Kastl has been promoted to assistant tight ends coach and Jordan Somerville was promoted to go sport specialist/assistant quarterbacks coach.
