The Jacksonville Jaguars announced the appointment of Anthony Campanile as their new defensive coordinator on Thursday evening. His main objective is to revitalize a defense that has struggled significantly in recent seasons, making it one of the least effective in the team’s history.
In the 2024 season, the Jaguars (4-13) finished near the bottom of the league, ranking 31st in total yards allowed, averaging 389.9 per game, and 28th in points conceded, with 25.6 per game, while under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Nielsen was dismissed, along with head coach Doug Pederson, offensive coordinator Press Taylor, and a significant portion of Pederson’s coaching team.
Last week, the Jaguars brought in Liam Coen, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to lead the team as head coach, and he has chosen Campanile as one of his primary hires. Many insiders regard Campanile’s appointment as crucial, particularly given the defense’s lackluster performance in recent years.
“Anthony Campanile embodies our vision for what a strong defensive unit and overall football team should be,” Coen commented. “He offers an assertive defensive approach and a system that caters to our players’ strengths, enabling them to perform both quickly and aggressively.”
The Jaguars have had a rocky history on defense, ranked 20th or lower for total defense since 2018. Under Pederson, they finished with rankings of 24th, 22nd, and 31st over three seasons. The team particularly struggled in close contests during 2024, ending with a dismal record of 3-10 in games decided by a single score.
Campanile’s challenge will be to turn this trend around. There is optimism surrounding the talent available on the roster, including standout players such as linebacker Foye Oluokun, cornerback Tyson Campbell, and defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Additionally, with the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and over $30 million available in salary-cap space, the opportunity to improve the squad is significant.
Entering his sixth season in the NFL and his first role as a defensive coordinator, Campanile most recently served as the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in 2024. Under his watch, the Packers allowed the seventh-lowest rushing yards per game, averaging 99.4.
Before his tenure at Green Bay, Campanile worked for four seasons (2020-23) as the linebackers coach at the University of Miami. His coaching career also includes stops at the college level with Michigan (2019), Boston College (2016-18), and Rutgers (2012-15).
In the process of finding a new defensive coordinator, Jacksonville also considered several candidates, including former Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Los Angeles Rams assistant Aubrey Pleasant, and Minnesota assistant Daronte Jones.
