Jim Caldwell’s pursuit to return as an NFL head coach has come to an finish. The veteran coach, who has been one of many key faces and figures within the NFL’s efforts to rent Black head coaches over the previous few years, instructed reporters Tuesday that he doesn’t plan to hunt one other head teaching job throughout his time within the league.
“Right now, the one job that I’m involved about is the job I do right here, proper right here and now,” mentioned Caldwell, who has been employed as a senior assistant for the Carolina Panthers, by way of ESPN. “I’m not apprehensive in regards to the future or anything. I do not plan on being a head coach from this level ahead.”
Caldwell, 69, first turned a head coach within the NFL in 2009 when he was tabbed as Tony Dungy’s successor in Indianapolis with the Colts. He held that job by the 2011 season and was later employed as head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2014. Caldwell was the primary African American head coach in that franchise’s historical past and was with the group by the 2017 marketing campaign after which he was fired after a 9-7 season. Since then, Caldwell has interviewed for a handful of open head teaching jobs through the years, which embody the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos positions this offseason. After not getting both of these gigs, he opted to affix Frank Reich’s workers the place he’ll immediately report back to him on all phases of the crew.
“When I did not get a head teaching job, I instantly form of modified the plan when it comes to what I used to be in search of subsequent,” Caldwell mentioned. “I knew I used to be on the stage the place I wished to be again within the constructing someplace. And so, I did have some alternatives to form of have a look at, and I used to be glad when Frank known as.”
This offseason, there have been 5 head coach openings throughout the NFL and just one was stuffed by a minority coach — DeMeco Ryan in Houston.
“When you have a look at the numbers, they communicate for themselves,” Caldwell mentioned. “There’s been volumes and volumes of articles written and reporting on tv in regards to the lack of variety when it comes to the top teaching place. But there’s been numerous issues within the background to attempt to enhance that.”
While Caldwell will now not seek for a head teaching job for himself, he does plan to proceed being part of the Quarterback Coaching Summit, which is geared toward getting extra offensive-minded Black coaches within the school ranks and organising a doable pipeline to the NFL. Caldwell famous that this seems “to be the avenue to reaching a head teaching place.”
