The Jacksonville Jaguars are adding a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant to their coaching staff under Liam Coen.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Jaguars are hiring John Van Dam as their pass game specialist.
Van Dam previously held that same title with the Bucs during the 2024 season and was the tight ends coach as well from 2022-2023.
The Jaguars had previously tried to interview Bucs’ offensive line coach Kevin Carberry and assistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci.
The difference between these two instances is that Carberry and Picucci were still under with Tampa Bay, while Van Dam’s contract expired after the 2024 season.
The Bucs’ team site notes that in 2022, Van Dam’s first season as tight ends coach, the Tampa Bay tight ends combined for 72 receptions and 673 yards. Rookie Cade Otten led all rookie tight ends in receptions and was third in receiving yards.
During the 2023 season, Otton improved on his rookie year with 47 receptions and 455 receiving yards, along with a 154 yard performance in the playoffs.
Working with Coen in 2024, the Bucs’ passing offense finished the regular season top five in yards per game.
Liam Coen’s top priority as head coach will be maximizing Trevor Lawrence’s abilities. The staff that is going to help him accomplish that is now taking shape.
Grant Udinski will be the offensive coordinator. It was reported that Shane Waldron will also be on the staff and Spencer Whipple the quarterbacks coach.
