The Jacksonville Jaguars are hiring Ryan Nielsen as their new defensive coordinator, ESPN reported Monday.
Nielsen, 44, held the same position for the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, overseeing a unit that improved from 27th to 11th in total defense and from 23rd to 18th in scoring defense from the 2022 campaign. The Falcons also doubled their sack total from 21 to 42.
Nielsen became available when the Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith after a third straight 7-10 season.
He replaces Mike Caldwell in Jacksonville. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson fired Caldwell and much of his defensive staff on Jan. 8, one day after a 28-20 Week 18 loss at Tennessee knocked the Jags out of the playoff picture.
Before Atlanta, Nielsen spent six seasons (2017-22) with the New Orleans Saints. He was the assistant head coach there in 2021 and the co-defensive coordinator in 2022.
Jacksonville (9-8) finished 17th in scoring defense and 22nd in total defense in 2023, including 26th against the pass.
–Field Level Media
Jacob Young tripled home three runs in the 10th inning and the visiting Washington Nationals went on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-8 Friday night. Luis Garcia Jr. drove…
First baseman Freddie Freeman was granted leave by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday to be with his ailing 3-year-old son. Freeman was with the team when it traveled to…
Bryan De La Cruz and Jake Burger homered during a three-run first inning on Friday as the visiting Miami Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 in the opener of a…
Freddie Freeman leaves Dodgers to be with ailing son
Early home runs steer Marlins past Brewers
Framber Valdez, Astros shut down Dodgers to open series
Manager: Mets’ Kodai Senga needs MRI on injured leg
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
