Mike Caldwell (linebacker) facts for kids

Isaiah "Mike" Caldwell, Jr. (born August 31, 1971) is a well-known American football coach. He currently works for the Las Vegas Raiders as their linebackers coach and run game coordinator. Before this, he was the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2022 to 2023.

Caldwell played college football as a linebacker at Middle Tennessee State University. He was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft. Caldwell played for 11 seasons in the NFL. He played for teams like the Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers.

After his playing career, Caldwell started coaching. His first coaching job was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. He has also coached for the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Playing Career Highlights

Mike Caldwell had an exciting career as a football player. He was known for being a strong linebacker.

College Football Journey

Caldwell played 52 games during his college career. He was great at forcing fumbles, which means he made opposing players drop the ball. In 1992, he led his team with 76 tackles. A tackle is when a player stops an opponent who has the ball. He was also named a 3rd team All-American that year. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.

Playing in the NFL

Mike Caldwell joined the Cleveland Browns in 1993. He quickly made a big impact as a rookie. He played for the Browns for three years. During this time, he had many tackles and even caught 3 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player.

After playing for the Browns, he spent a year with the Baltimore Ravens. He then joined the Arizona Cardinals in 1997. From 1998 to 2001, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles. He continued to make many tackles and interceptions. In 2002, he played for the Chicago Bears. He finished his playing career with the Carolina Panthers in 2003. Overall, he played 159 games in the NFL. He had 562 total tackles and 8 interceptions.

Coaching Career Highlights

After his successful playing career, Mike Caldwell became a football coach. He has coached for several NFL teams.

Starting with the Philadelphia Eagles

Caldwell began his coaching journey with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. His first role was as a defensive quality control coach. This job involves helping the defensive coaches with game plans and strategies. He was later promoted to assistant linebackers coach in 2010. In 2011, he became the main linebackers coach for the Eagles.

Coaching the New York Jets

In 2015, Caldwell moved to the New York Jets. He took on a bigger role there. He was the assistant head coach and also coached the inside linebackers.

Winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Caldwell joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. He worked with coaches he knew from his time with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2021, Caldwell achieved a major milestone. He won his first Super Bowl title when the Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV. This is a huge achievement for any coach in the NFL.

Leading the Jacksonville Jaguars Defense

In 2022, Caldwell was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He became their defensive coordinator. This means he was in charge of the entire defensive strategy for the team. He held this position for two seasons.

Joining the Las Vegas Raiders

In February 2024, Caldwell joined the Las Vegas Raiders. He is now their linebackers coach and run game coordinator. This role involves coaching the linebackers and helping to plan how the defense will stop the opponent's running plays.

Personal Life

Mike Caldwell has a family involved in sports. His niece, Nikki Caldwell, is the president of the Las Vegas Aces. This is a professional basketball team in the WNBA. His son, Simeon, is also a talented football player. He is a highly-rated recruit for college football.