Bob Sutton caught on with the Jaguars during Urban Meyer‘s nine-month run as head coach, but the former defensive coordinator also has a history with Doug Pederson. The Jags will keep Sutton on Pederson’s first staff, per a team announcement.
The former Chiefs and Jets DC will stay on as a senior defensive assistant with the Jaguars, helping out Mike Caldwell, who will be a first-time coordinator. The Jags hired Caldwell from the Buccaneers last week. Sutton, 71, worked with Pederson in Kansas City from 2013-15; the two were Andy Reid‘s coordinators during that span.
Additionally, the Jags announced several new hires. One of them, offensive line coach Phil Rauscher, was believed to have another job lined up. Rather than join the Bills as their O-line coach, Rauscher signed up to hold that same position with the Jags. Rauscher, 36, coached the Vikings’ O-line last season — his first overseeing a position group — and was given permission to explore other jobs after Minnesota changed regimes. The Jags are keeping Todd Washington on staff as assistant O-line coach.
Jacksonville is hiring Heath Farwell as its special teams coordinator. A 10-year NFL vet, Farwell moved into coaching immediately after retiring. He spent the past three years as Buffalo’s ST coordinator; he left that job to join Pederson’s staff. The Jags are bringing in Luke Thompson to be their assistant ST coach. Thompson is a Pederson Philadelphia transplant, having worked as the Eagles’ assistant ST coach during Pederson’s final two seasons in Philly.
Andrew Breiner will work under Mike McCoy as assistant quarterbacks coach; Breiner was with the Eagles during Pederson’s tenure. Chris Jackson is on board as Jacksonville’s wide receivers coach. He comes over from Chicago, having worked with ex-Pederson coworker Matt Nagy for the past four seasons. Caldwell is bringing Cody Grimm with him from Tampa; Grimm will be Jacksonville’s safeties coach. The Jags are also retaining Tony Gilbert, who will be their inside linebackers coach next season. Gilbert was on Doug Marrone‘s final staff and Meyer’s 2021 group.
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