The Las Vegas Raiders feature fresh faces in a number of key roles. They’ve got a new general manager, offensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. Raiders According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Coach Antonio Pierce has recruited former Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Mike Caldwell to his coaching staff. Caldwell also coached linebackers for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Pierce wanted to fill the linebackers coach post with a coach that resembles him. Caldwell, like Pierce, spent several years in the NFL, appearing in over 150 games, 49 of which he started. During that period, Caldwell made over 500 tackles.
The Raiders improved their turnover rate this season after ranking at the bottom of the league in forced turnovers in 2022. Caldwell’s demonstrated ability to assist a defense in creating turnovers will be useful for Coach Pierce and Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham in the future. According to Garafolo, Caldwell interviewed with the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens before accepting the role as linebackers coach and run game coordinator in Las Vegas. Caldwell has been teaching since 2008, when he became the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive quality control coach. Three seasons later, he became their linebackers coach.
He would then take the same position with the Arizona Cardinals in 2013 for two seasons. He’d then join the Jets as their assistant head coach and linebackers coach for four seasons before joining the Buccaneers as their inside linebackers coach. He’d win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay before joining Doug Peterson’s staff in Jacksonville. He spent the last two seasons in Jacksonville but was let go after the season. Caldwell’s defenses in Jacksonville ranked near the top of the league in forced turnovers in both seasons as their defensive coordinator. Caldwell joins two defensive-minded coaches, Pierce and Graham, who want to continue developing Las Vegas’ young defense. The three will work together to get the most from the Raiders’ defense moving forward.
