Jay Rodgers Explained

Jay Rodgers
Current Team:Atlanta Falcons
Position:Defensive line coach
Birth Date:29 August 1976
Birth Place:Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
High School:Austin (TX) Westlake
College:Indiana, Missouri State
Pastcoaching:
  • LSU (2001)
    Graduate assistant
  • LSU (2002)
    Graduate assistant
  • Dodge City (2003)
    Passing game coordinator & quarterbacks coach
  • Missouri State (2004)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Stephen F. Austin (2005–2006)
    Quarterbacks coach
  • Iowa State (2007–2008)
    Wide receivers coach
  • Denver Broncos (–)
    Coaches assistant
  • Denver Broncos
    Defensive quality control coach
  • Denver Broncos (–)
    Defensive line coach
  • Chicago Bears (–)
    Defensive line coach
  • Los Angeles Chargers
    Outside linebackers coach & run game coordinator
  • Los Angeles Chargers (–)
    Defensive line coach & run game coordinator
  • Atlanta Falcons (–present)
    Defensive line coach
Highlights:
  • John Teerlinck Award (2018)

Jay Rodgers (born August 29, 1976) is the Defensive Line coach for the Atlanta Falcons and former quarterback. He also recently served as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. He was also previously the defensive line coach of the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2020 and the Denver Broncos from 2012 to 2014. [1]

Playing career

Rodgers attended Indiana University Bloomington, where he played quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers football team from 1996 to 1998. In 1999, he transferred to Missouri State.[2]

Coaching career

Denver Broncos

After spending 2009–2011 as an assistant coach, Rodgers was promoted to defensive line coach following former coach Wayne Nunnely's retirement after three years with the Broncos.[3] In 2012, the Broncos went 13–3 and won the AFC West for the second year in a row.[4] They would go on to lose in the Divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens 38–35.[5] Under Rodgers' coaching, defensive end Elvis Dumervil made the Pro Bowl.[6]

During the 2013 offseason, the Broncos drafted defensive lineman Sylvester Williams & Quanterus Smith in the 1st (28th pick) and 5th (146th pick) rounds of the 2013 NFL draft.[7] In 2013 the Broncos went 13–3 again and won the AFC West for the third consecutive year.[8] They would go on to Super Bowl XLVIII and lost to the Seattle Seahawks 43–8.[9]

Prior to the 2014 season, the Broncos signed defensive end DeMarcus Ware.[10] That year, the Broncos went 12–4 and won the AFC West for the fourth time.[11] They would go on to lose in the Divisional Round against the Indianapolis Colts 24–13.[12] Ware would make the Pro Bowl under Rodgers' tutelage.[13] After this season, head coach John Fox was fired and his staff was laid off.[14]

Chicago Bears

On January 25, 2015, the Chicago Bears named Rodgers the defensive line coach, reuniting with Fox who had been named their head coach.[15] In his first season with the Bears, they went 6–10 and missed the playoffs, though nose tackle Eddie Goldman made the 2015 All-Rookie team.[16]

During the 2016 offseason, the Bears drafted defensive end Jonathan Bullard in the third round (72nd pick) of the 2016 NFL draft and added Roy Robertson-Harris as an undrafted free agent.[17] [18] They also re-signed Mitch Unrein and added Akiem Hicks, but let Jarvis Jenkins go to the New York Jets.[19] [20] [21] During the 2016 season, the Bears went 3–13, the franchise's worst record since the NFL expanded to 16 games.

During the 2017 season, the Bears went 5–11, missed the playoffs, and Fox was fired.[22] After Matt Nagy was named the new head coach of the Bears, he elected to keep defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his staff.[23] [24] In the 2018 NFL draft, the Bears drafted defensive lineman Bilal Nichols and Kylie Fitts in the 5th (145th pick) and 6th (181st pick) respectively.[25] In 2018, the Bears went 12–4, the first winning season since 2012 and playoff appearance since 2010.[26] Under Rodgers, defensive end Akiem Hicks made the 2019 Pro Bowl, the first defensive end from the Bears to do so since Julius Peppers in 2012.[27] Rodgers received the John Teerlinck Award as the best defensive line coach in the NFL; the 2018 Bears line helped the defense lead the league in categories like rushing yards allowed per game (80) and points allowed per game (17.7).[28]

During the 2019 offseason, Fangio left the Bears to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos and he was replaced by former Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano.[29] [30] Robertson-Harris was also re-signed.[31]

Los Angeles Chargers

On January 20, 2021, Rodgers was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers to serve as the outside linebackers coach, as well as the run game coordinator.[32] On December 15, 2023, after the firings of head coach Brandon Staley and General Manager Tom Telesco, Rodgers was also fired by the Chargers.[33]

Personal life

His brother Jeff is also an NFL coach; the two worked together on the Bears with Jeff as special teams coordinator until 2017.[34] Their father Randy Rodgers was a college coach and recruiting coordinator for the Texas Longhorns and Illinois Fighting Illini.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jay Rodgers joins Chicago Bears' staff . ESPN . January 26, 2015 . March 18, 2018.
  2. Web site: Mayer. Larry. Coaches Corner with Jay Rodgers. Chicago Bears. July 26, 2015. September 27, 2019.
  3. News: Broncos' Wayne Nunnely, longtime assistant coach, retires from NFL. Klis. Mike. May 14, 2012. The Denver Post.
  4. News: Mile High Monday: Broncos Beat the Buccaneers and Win the AFC West. Krier. Chris. December 3, 2012. Predominately Orange.
  5. News: Double-OT Heartbreaker Ends Denver's Season. Caldwell. Gray. January 12, 2013. Denver Broncos. Zaas. Stuart. August 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116144119/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Double-OT-Heartbreaker-Ends-Denvers-Season/73d0f072-f98d-492d-8348-3551c7b2c516. January 16, 2013. dead.
  6. Web site: Luck steps in for Brady on AFC Pro Bowl squad. 2013-01-21. ESPN.com. en.
  7. Web site: DT Sylvester Williams is Denver Broncos' pick at No. 28 of 2013 NFL draft. Klis. Mike. 2013-04-25. The Denver Post. en-US.
  8. News: Broncos' AFC West three-peat powered by John Fox's trot. Niesen. Joan. December 27, 2013. The Denver Post.
  9. News: Broncos, Peyton Manning struggle in Super Bowl blowout by Seahawks. Klis. Mike. February 2, 2014. The Denver Post.
  10. News: DeMarcus Ware signs with Broncos as John Elway quick-fixes Denver defense. Klis. Mike. March 12, 2014. The Denver Post.
  11. News: Broncos sack Chargers to win fourth consecutive AFC West title. Klis. Mike. December 14, 2014. The Denver Post.
  12. Web site: Andrew Luck leads Colts to upset of Peyton Manning, Broncos. January 11, 2015. ESPN.
  13. Web site: Nine Broncos named to Pro Bowl. Giudice. Lauren. December 23, 2014. Denver Broncos. August 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20141224221747/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Nine-Broncos-named-to-Pro-Bowl/44af5287-108b-4147-85bc-351ab1d18427. December 24, 2014. dead.
  14. Web site: John Fox out as Denver Broncos coach: Three things to know. Breech. John. January 12, 2015. CBSSports.com. en.
  15. Web site: Jay Rodgers. www.chicagobears.com. en-US.
  16. Web site: Bears' Eddie Goldman, Adrian Amos make all-rookie team. Wiederer. Dan. January 19, 2016. chicagotribune.com.
  17. Web site: Bears draft Bullard in third round. Mayer. Larry. April 29, 2016. ChicagoBears.com.
  18. Web site: Bears sign seven draft picks, 10 others. Mayer, Larry. May 9, 2016. ChicagoBears.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20171216144013/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-sign-seven-draft-picks-10-others/67c5f27e-70f3-47b0-91ea-49c8d5c0be8d. December 16, 2017. dead.
  19. Web site: Bears bring back defensive lineman Mitch Unrein on 2-year deal. Tarsitano. Rick. March 12, 2016. WGN TV.
  20. News: Bears add DE Akiem Hicks on a 2-year contract. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315074809/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000644114/article/bears-add-de-akiem-hicks-on-a-2year-contract. dead. March 15, 2016. Patra. Kevin. March 14, 2016. NFL.com.
  21. News: Ex-Bears DE Jarvis Jenkins finalizes contract with Jets. Finley. Patrick. March 16, 2016. Chicago Sun-Times.
  22. Web site: Chicago Bears fire coach John Fox after 5-11 season. Patra. Kevin. January 1, 2018. National Football League.
  23. Web site: Chicago Bears fire coach John Fox after 5-11 season. Patra. Kevin. January 1, 2018. National Football League. https://web.archive.org/web/20180101174300/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000901544/article/chicago-bears-fire-coach-john-fox-after-511-season. January 1, 2018. live.
  24. News: Return of DC Vic Fangio another big win for new Bears coach Matt Nagy. Potash. Mark. January 13, 2018. Chicago Sun-Times.
  25. News: Bears draft ILB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, DL Bilal Nichols, OLB Kylie Fitts, WR Javon Wims. Kane. Colleen. April 28, 2018. Chicago Tribune. Campbell. Rich.
  26. News: Bears defense leads team to 1st winning season in 6 years. Perez. Bryan. December 9, 2018. USA Today. Bears Wire.
  27. Web site: Seven Chicago Bears named alternates to 2019 Pro Bowl. Eurich. Matt. December 18, 2018. 247Sports.com.
  28. Web site: Rodgers named NFL d-line coach of year. Mayer. Larry. March 7, 2019. Chicago Bears.
  29. Web site: Broncos agree to terms with Vic Fangio to become head coach. DiLalla. Aric. January 10, 2019. DenverBroncos.com.
  30. Web site: Bears hire Pagano as defensive coordinator. Mayer. Larry. January 11, 2019. Chicago Bears.
  31. News: Bears re-sign Roy Robertson-Harris and Isaiah Irving. Barbieri. Alyssa. April 15, 2019. USA Today. Bears Wire.
  32. Web site: 2021-01-20 . Jay Rodgers leaving Bears, joining Chargers . 2023-12-15 . NBC Sports . en-US.
  33. Web site: December 15, 2023 . we have relieved Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach Jay Rodgers of his duties . X/Twitter.
  34. Web site: Bro bro bro: Rodgers coaches team up on Bears staff. Patrick Finley. December 24, 2015. Chicago Sun-Times. March 18, 2018.

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