JACKSONVILLE – Joe Cullen is back with the Jaguars.
And this time, the well-respected pass-rush coach has joined with his former team in a higher-profile role than he held nearly a decade ago.
Cullen, the Jaguars' defensive line coach from 2010-2012 and one of the NFL's most-respected position coaches, has been named the Jaguars' defensive coordinator.
The Jaguars announced the move on Thursday, along with 10 other defensive assistants: Assistant head coach/inside linebackers Charlie Strong, defensive backs-safeties Chris Ash, defensive backs-nickels Joe Danna, assistant linebackers Tony Gilbert, assistant defensive line Sterling Lucas, defensive line Tosh Lupoi, outside linebackers Zachary Orr, defensive quality control Patrick Reilly, senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton and secondary-corners Tim Walton,
The Jaguars on Thursday also named Darrell Bevel offensive coordinator and named Brian Schneider special teams coordinator. They named Urban Meyer the sixth coach in franchise history on January 14.
Cullen, a 14-year veteran of NFL coaching, spent the last five seasons as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive line coach. This will be his first NFL coordinator position. The Ravens' defense during Cullen's tenure allowed the fewest yards in the NFL, allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per game and forcing the third-most takeaways in the league during that span.
Cullen, 53, previously coached in the NFL as a defensive line coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-2015), Cleveland Browns (2013), Jaguars (2010-2012) and Detroit Lions (2006-2008). He spent 2009 as the defensive line coach at Idaho State.
Cullen, a 1990 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, coached UMass' running backs in 1990 and defensive line in 1991. He also has coached collegiately at Richmond (1992-1996, defensive line; 1997-1998/2000, defensive coordinator), Louisiana State (1999, defensive line), Memphis (2001, defensive line), Indiana (2002-2003, defensive line; 2004, defensive coordinator) and Illinois (defensive assistant, 2005).
A look at the rest of the defensive staff:
*Charlie Strong, assistant head coach/inside linebackers. A former head coach at South Florida, Texas and Louisville, Strong spent last season as a defensive analyst at Alabama. Career to date: Alabama defensive analyst (2020), South Florida Head Coach (2017-2019), Texas Head Coach (2014-2016), Louisville Head Coach (2010-2013), Florida associate head coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers (2008-2009), Florida assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/linebackers (2005-2007), Florida interim head coach (2004), Florida defensive coordinator/defensive ends (2003-2004), South Carolina defensive coordinator (1999-2002), Notre Dame defensive line (1995-1998), Florida associate head coach/defensive tackles (1994), Florida defensive ends (1991-1993), Ole Miss wide receivers (1990), Florida outside linebackers (1988-1989), Southern Illinois wide receivers (1986-1987), Texas A&M graduate assistant (1985) and Florida graduate assistant (1983-1984). Strong served as an assistant under Meyer on Florida's 2006 and 2008 national champions.
*Chris Ash, defensive backs-safeties. Ash, head coach at Rutgers from 2016-2019, spent last season as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Texas. Career to date: Texas defensive coordinator/linebackers (2020), Rutgers Head Coach (2016-2019), Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/safeties (2014-2015), Arkansas defensive coordinator/defensive backs (2013), Wisconsin defensive coordinator/defensive backs (2011-2012), Wisconsin defensive backs (2010), Iowa State defensive backs/recruiting coordinator (2009), San Diego State defensive backs/recruiting coordinator (2007-2008), Iowa State defensive backs/recruiting coordinator (2006), Iowa State defensive backs (2002-2005), Iowa State graduate assistant (2000-2001), Drake defensive coordinator (1998-1999) and Drake graduate assistant (1997).
*Joe Danna, defensive backs-nickels. Danna, a 13-year NFL coaching veteran, spent the past four seasons coaching the Jaguars' secondary-safeties. Career to date: Jaguars secondary-safeties (2017-2020, New York Jets defensive backs (2015-2016), Falcons defensive backs (2012-2014), Miami Dolphins assistant defensive backs (2010-2011), Falcons defensive assistant (2008-2009), James Madison defensive backs (2007), Georgia Southern defensive backs (2006), Central Michigan wide receivers (2005), Central Michigan safeties (2003-2004), Central Michigan wide receivers (2002), Georgia graduate assistant (2001) and Central Michigan graduate assistant (1999-2000).
*Tony Gilbert, assistant linebackers. Gilbert, a one-year NFL coaching veteran, spent last season as the Jaguars' assistant linebackers coach. Career to date: Jaguars assistant linebackers (2020), Central Florida defensive quality control (2018-2019), North Carolina defensive quality control/linebackers (2015-2017), John Milledge Academy defensive coordinator/linebackers (2014-2015), Georgia Military College defensive line/linebackers (2013-2014), Auburn defensive graduate assistant/linebackers (2012) and Georgia assistant strength and conditioning (2011).
*Sterling Lucas, assistant defensive line. Lucas, a five-year NFL coaching veteran, spent the last five seasons with the Ravens and served as defensive assistant/defensive line last season. Career to date: Ravens defensive assistant/defensive line (2020), Ravens defensive assistant/linebackers (2019), Ravens quality control-defense (2018), Ravens administrative assistant-defense (2017), Ravens strength-and-conditioning assistant (2016), North Carolina State defensive graduate assistant (2014-15) and North Carolina State strength-and-conditioning graduate assistant (2013-2014).
*Tosh Lupoi, defensive line. Lupoi, a two-year NFL coaching veteran, spent last season as Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach/run-game coordinator. Career to date: Falcons defensive line coach/run-game coordinator(defensive ends) (2020), Browns defensive line coach (2019), Alabama defensive coordinator (2018), Alabama co-defensive coordinator (2016-2017), Alabama outside linebackers coach (2015), Alabama defensive assistant (2014), Washington defensive line coach/run-game coordinator (2012-2013) and California defensive line coach (2008-2011).
*Zachary Orr, outside linebackers. Orr, a four-year NFL coaching veteran, spent the last two seasons as coaching analyst with the Ravens. Career to date: Ravens coaching analyst (2019-2020), Ravens player personnel and coaching administrative assistant.
*Patrick Reilly, defensive quality control. Reilly was a defensive analyst at Alabama the past three seasons. Career to date: Alabama defensive analyst (2018-2020), UCLA defensive analyst (2018), UCLA defensive quality control (2016-2017), Syracuse offensive graduate assistant (2014-2016), SUNY Brockport tight ends (2014), Syracuse offensive quality control intern (2013), SUNY Cortland wide receivers (2013), SUNY Cortland video coordinator/offensive quality control (2011-2013).
*Bob Sutton, senior defensive assistant. Sutton, a 21-year NFL coaching veteran, spent the past two seasons as a senior defensive assistant with the Falcons. Career to date: Falcons senior assistant (2019–2020), Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator (2013–2018), Jets assistant head coach/linebackers (2012), Jets senior defensive assistant/linebackers (2009-2011), Jets defensive coordinator (2006-2008), Jets linebackers (2000-2005), Army Head Coach (1990-1999), Amy defensive coordinator (1983-1990), North Carolina State running backs (1982), Western Michigan offensive coordinator (1980-1981), Illinois defensive coordinator/linebackers (1975-1976), Western Michigan defensive coordinator/linebackers (1975-1976), Syracuse linebackers (1974), Michigan graduate assistant (1972-1973).
*Tim Walton, secondary-corners. Walton, an 11-year NFL coaching veteran, spent the past two seasons as the Jaguars' secondary and cornerbacks coach. Career to date: Jaguars secondary-cornerbacks (2019-2020), New York Giants secondary-cornerbacks (2015-2018), St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator (2013), Lions defensive backs (2009-2012), Memphis defensive coordinator (2008), Miami defensive coordinator (2007), Miami defensive backs (2004-2006), Louisiana State defensive backs (2003), Syracuse defensive backs (2002), Memphis defensive backs (2000-2001), Bowling Green defensive backs (1999), Bowling Green running backs (1996-1998) and Bowling Green graduate assistant (1995).
