Mike Caldwell (linebacker)


Isaiah "Mike" Caldwell, Jr. is an American football coach who serves as the inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is formerly a linebacker who played 11 seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State University and was drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Caldwell began his professional coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008. He previously was the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, and was the assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach for the New York Jets from 2015–2018.

Collegiate career

Mike Caldwell finished his career with 52 games played and 7 forced fumbles. In 1992, he led the team with 76 tackles. He was also a 3rd team All-American that year and 1st team Ohio Valley Conference selection.

NFL Playing Career

Caldwell made an immediate impact for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie under Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. He would finish with 42, 40, and 70 tackles from 1993-1995 with 3 interceptions. After 1 year with the Baltimore Ravens he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 1997 and had 29 tackles with 2 Sacks and 1 INT.
From 1998-2001 he played with the Philadelphia Eagles accumulating 221 tackles with 5 Sacks and 3 INT. In 2002, he went to the Chicago Bears where he had 61 tackles and 3 Sacks before closing out his career with the Carolina Panthers, appearing in just 9 games.

Coaching career

Philadelphia Eagles

Caldwell was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as the defensive quality control coach in 2008. He was promoted to assistant linebackers coach on February 3, 2010. He was promoted to linebackers coach on February 7, 2011.

New York Jets

Caldwell was hired as assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach by the New York Jets on January 23, 2015.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2019, Caldwell rejoined the staff of former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians alongside former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.

Personal life

His niece, Nikki Caldwell, is head coach of women's basketball at LSU.