Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer January 8, 2024, 8:33 p.m. ET
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- Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter for ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for ESPN.com and the Florida Times-Union for over a decade. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and several defensive assistants on Monday, the team announced.
Pederson had said earlier Monday that he was still coming to terms with the disappointing end to the season and would need some time before making any personnel changes – but he appeared to act quickly.
“It’s not where we want to be and I have to take all of that into account,” he said. Jacksonville announced news of the layoffs Monday evening.
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In addition to Caldwell, Pederson also fired defensive coach Brentson Buckner, passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Deshea Townsend, inside linebackers coach Tony Gilbert, safeties coach Cody Grimm, senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton and defensive quality control coaches Tee Mitchell and Sean Cullina.
Assistant defensive line coach Rory Segrest, outside linebackers coach Bill Shuey and defensive quality control coach Patrick Reilly were retained.
Pederson hired Caldwell as coordinator for the first time in 2022 after Caldwell spent the previous three seasons as Tampa's inside linebackers coach under Todd Bowles. The Jaguars did show improvement in some areas in Caldwell's first season compared to 2021, but that didn't carry over into 2023 and the defense played a major role in the team's collapse after an 8-3 start.
The Jaguars have lost five of their last six games, giving up an average of 29.2 points and 146.8 yards per game in the five losses. The only win was a 26-0 shutout against Carolina, which ended with the worst record in the NFL.
The 2023 unit ranked 17th in scoring (21.8 points per game), 22nd in total defense (342.8), ninth in rushing (103.1 yards per game) and 26th in total defense (342.8). Rank in the passing game (239.8 yards per game). The defense forced 27 turnovers (tied for fourth in the league), and outside linebacker Josh Allen ranked second in the NFL with 17.5 sacks, while linebacker Foye Oluokun ranked fourth in the NFL with 173 tackles.
But the defense also struggled Sunday against Tennessee, a game the Jaguars needed to win to secure their second straight AFC South title. Derrick Henry ran for 153 yards and a touchdown, including a 69-yard run to set up a touchdown, and the Titans finished the game with 175 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
That was the second-highest rushing total the Jaguars allowed all season.