Two weeks after they started looking for their newest defensive coordinator, the Jacksonville Jaguars formally announced on Monday that they had hired Ryan Nielsen.
According to a statement released by the Jaguars, head coach Doug Pederson, “we’re excited to welcome Ryan and have him lead our defense going forward.” “Ryan is an outstanding football coach and his defenses with the Falcons and Saints were always fundamentally sound in both their physicality and concepts.”
Before the Falcons denied the Jaguars’ request for an interview, Nielsen was one of the team’s initial targets. Nielsen recently completed his first season as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons waived the limitation last week, which finally made Nielsen Pederson’s new defensive coordinator.
After the Falcons ended No. 18 in points allowed, No. 12 in EPA/Play, No. 5 in success rate, and No. 1 in rushing EPA/Play, 44-year-old Nielsen concluded his debut season in that role.
Since the New Orleans Saints recruited Nielsen out of NC State in 2017, he has been a member of the NFL. Nielsen served as the defensive line coach for the Saints for four years before being elevated to associate head coach in 2021 and co-defensive coordinator in 2022. In 2021, Nielsen was again considered by LSU as a potential defensive coordinator.
“He possesses the uncommon capacity to relate to and instruct his athletes. He establishes enduring, mutually beneficial connections based on trust. Pederson stated, “He creates accountability, starting with himself and moving on to the players. “What I’ve most admired about Ryan’s defenses — and we saw this in London back in October — was their shared intensity and enthusiasm to get the job done and impact the game.”
Two weeks ago, the Jaguars fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and began the search for a new one. Just three of Pederson’s eleven defensive staff members remain after the Jaguars fired seven additional defensive assistants.
