January 22, 2024

Report: Eagles to interview former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell

Will the Eagles go with Mike Caldwell at defensive coordinator?

By Jimmy Kempski
PhillyVoice Staff

Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

Former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell

The Philadelphia Eagles will be interviewing former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, according to a report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

#Eagles are set to interview former #Jaguars DC Mike Caldwell, per source. Philly looking for a new defensive coordinator.

Caldwell also will speak with the Raiders for a senior defensive staff position with DC flexibility should Patrick Graham get a head coaching job.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 22, 2024

Caldwell played linebacker for six different teams from 1993-2003, including the Eagles from 1998-2001. He's been a coach in the NFL since 2008:

• Philadelphia Eagles (2008–2009): Defensive quality control coach
• Philadelphia Eagles (2010): Assistant linebackers coach
• Philadelphia Eagles (2011–2012): Linebackers coach
• Arizona Cardinals (2013–2014): Inside linebackers coach
• New York Jets (2015–2018): Assistant head coach & inside linebackers coach
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019–2021): Inside linebackers coach
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2022–2023): Defensive coordinator

The Buccaneers got outstanding linebacker play from Devin White and Lavonte David during Caldwell's time in Tampa, with both players earning All-Pro nods and Super Bowl rings in 2020. Fowler's report notes that the Eagles are interviewing Caldwell and that they are "looking for a new defensive coordinator," but it does not expressly say that he is interviewing for that specific vacancy.

If Caldwell is interviewing for a job working with the linebackers, that is a position where he has definitively had success, and the Eagles could certainly use a strong coach at that position. His résumé as a defensive coordinator is less accomplished.