LSU Football's Fast-Rising Assistant Leaves Lane Kiffin's Staff for NFL Opportunity

Originally posted on LSU Tigers on SI | By Zack Nagy | Last updated Feb 13, 2026 6:17 PM ET

LSU Tigers safeties coach Jake Olsen is expected to depart Baton Rouge for an opportunity on the Washington Commanders' staff, according to CBS Sports.

Olsen returned to LSU in January of 2024 after two years working alongside defensive coordinator Blake Baker at Missouri where he quickly elevated play in the defensive backfield spearheaded by Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy last fall.

A Louisiana native, Olsen has strong ties across the Bayou State where he has assisted in the program's recruiting efforts over the last two seasons, but his second stint with LSU wraps up after a pair of years in Baton Rouge.

Olsen will make his move to the NFL where he joins a Washington Commanders franchise that continues its fast rise with former LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm.

The #Commanders are expected to hire LSU safeties coach Jake Olsen, sources tell @CBSSports.

Has worked at LSU the last two seasons and helped the Tigers finish this past season ranked top 25 nationally in scoring defense. pic.twitter.com/qlExifeFrx
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 13, 2026

The LSU Bio: Jake Olsen Edition

"Another member of the LSU coaching staff with strong ties to Louisiana, Olsen previously spent the 2021 season with the Tigers as an analyst with his focus on the linebackers. Olsen has 10 years of Louisiana college football coaching experience.

"In his first season as LSU’s safeties coach in 2024, Olsen’s group featured five different starters, including true freshman Dashawn Spears, who started in wins over South Carolina, UCLA and South Alabama. Junior Jardin Gilbert led the group with 55 tackles, while senior Major Burns added 47 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and created three turnovers.

"Olsen coached the linebackers at Missouri for two years (2022-23) helping Mizzou to its best season in a decade in 2023 when the Tigers won 11 games and finished the year ranked No. 9 in the nation. Missouri capped the 2023 season with a 14-3 win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl as the Tigers held the Buckeyes without a touchdown for the first time since 2016.

"At Missouri, Olsen helped develop Ty’Ron Hopper into a two-time All-SEC selection and he was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2023.

"In his previous season at LSU in 2021, Olsen assisted with the development of Damone Clark into an All-America selection. Clark, now a starter for the Dallas Cowboys, ranked No. 2 in the nation in tackles per game with 11.42 in 2023.

"Prior to joining the LSU staff, Olsen spent four years (2017-20) at Northwestern State where he coached linebackers, safeties and served as special teams coordinator during his time with the Demons."

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2013 Valley City State (defense)
2014 Nicholls State (outside linebackers)
2015-16 Louisiana-Monroe (graduate assistant – safeties, defensive line)
2017-20 Northwestern State (linebackers, 2017; safeties, 2018; outside linebackers, 2019; safeties, special teams coordinator, 2020)
2021 LSU (analyst – linebackers)
2022-23 Missouri (linebackers)
2024-25 LSU (safeties)

This article first appeared on LSU Tigers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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