| New Orleans Saints | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Edges coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1976-08-29)August 29, 1976 (age 48) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Austin (TX) Westlake |
| College: | Indiana,Missouri State |
| Career history | |
As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Jay Rodgers (born August 29, 1976) is anAmerican football coach and formerquarterback who currently serves as the edges coach for theNew Orleans Saints of theNational Football League (NFL) . He also served as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for theLos Angeles Chargers and defensive line coach of theChicago Bears from 2015 to 2020 and theDenver Broncos from 2012 to 2014.[1]
Rodgers attendedIndiana University Bloomington, where he played quarterback for theIndiana Hoosiers football team from 1996 to 1998. In 1999, he transferred toMissouri State.[2]
After spending 2009–2011 as an assistant coach, Rodgers was promoted to defensive line coach following former coachWayne 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 theBaltimore Ravens 38–35.[5] Under Rodgers' coaching, defensive endElvis Dumervil made the Pro Bowl.[6]
During the 2013 offseason, the Broncos drafted defensive linemanSylvester Williams &Quanterus Smith in the 1st (28th pick) and 5th (146th pick) rounds of the2013 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 toSuper Bowl XLVIII and lost to theSeattle Seahawks 43–8.[9]
Prior to the 2014 season, the Broncos signed defensive endDeMarcus 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 theIndianapolis Colts 24–13.[12] Ware would make the Pro Bowl under Rodgers' tutelage.[13] After this season, head coachJohn Fox was fired and his staff was laid off.[14]
On January 25, 2015, theChicago 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 tackleEddie Goldman made the 2015 All-Rookie team.[16]
During the 2016 offseason, the Bears drafted defensive endJonathan Bullard in the third round (72nd pick) of the2016 NFL draft and addedRoy Robertson-Harris as an undrafted free agent.[17][18] They also re-signedMitch Unrein and addedAkiem Hicks, but letJarvis Jenkins go to theNew 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] AfterMatt Nagy was named the new head coach of the Bears, he elected to keep defensive coordinatorVic Fangio and his staff.[23][24] In the2018 NFL draft, the Bears drafted defensive linemanBilal Nichols andKylie 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 endAkiem Hicks made the 2019 Pro Bowl, the first defensive end from the Bears to do so sinceJulius Peppers in 2012.[27] Rodgers received theJohn 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 theDenver Broncos and he was replaced by former Indianapolis head coachChuck Pagano.[29][30] Robertson-Harris was also re-signed.[31]
On January 20, 2021, Rodgers was hired by theLos 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 coachBrandon Staley and general managerTom Telesco, Rodgers was also fired by the Chargers.[33]
He served as the defensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons for the 2024 season. On January 11, 2025, Rodgers was fired by theAtlanta Falcons after spending one season as the team's defensive line coach.[34]
His brotherJeff is also an NFL coach; the two worked together on the Bears with Jeff as special teams coordinator until 2017.[35] Their fatherRandy Rodgers was a college coach and recruiting coordinator for theTexas Longhorns andIllinois Fighting Illini.[2]