Dom

Capers

The move marks the third consecutive year with the same role for different teams after Capers previously served as senior defensive assistant in both Detroit and Denver. Frank Reich wasted no time in making significant coaching moves after being hired as the new head coach in Carolina, also hiring Josh McCown to serve as the team’s new quarterbacks coach. Capers, now 72, brings substantial coaching experience to an organization with numerous moving parts this offseason.

Capers held the same role in Detroit last season. The 71-year-old brings needed experience to a coaching staff that hired first-time DC Ejiro Evero this offseason. Capers overlapped with Evero while with the Packers in 2018.

Capers, 70, turned down a defensive coordinator job with the Bengals two years ago before being hired by the Jaguars as a senior defensive assistant. The Lions needed some experience in the building with Dan Campbell taking on head coaching duties.

Capers flirted with the Bengals about their defensive coordinator opening, but he reportedly turned down the job. The ex-Packers DC will instead help coach one of the most talented defenses in the league. It is likely the 68-year-old makes another run at a coordinator job next January.

Jack Del Rio did the same, for unknown reasons, although both candidates were ex-NFL head coaches with longtime track records proposed to serve under Zac Taylor, who turns 36 later this offseason. Neither Capers nor Del Rio would’ve been an especially inspiring hire, anyway.

Capers is also reportedly a candidate for the Bengals’ coordinator job, but he will have opportunities even if he fails to land that gig. Marvez predicts Capers will end up with the Dolphins. The former Packers coach spent last season out of the league.

Capers spent last year out of the league after being let go by Green Bay at the end of 2017. Marvin Lewis served as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator in addition to his head coaching duties after Teryl Austin’s midseason firing in 2018, but he followed Austin out the door shortly after. In addition to Capers, the Bengals are also pursuing Saints DC Dennis Allen for their D coordinator opening. Cincinnati’s staff should come together quickly once Zac Taylor leaves Los Angeles to become head coach after the Super Bowl.

“Dom Capers is an outstanding football coach. He had a tough challenge this year,” McCarthy said. “I feel really good about the coaching job that our staff did.” Capers is always on the hot seat in the minds of Packers fans, and that was especially true following the 44-21 NFC Championship loss to Atlanta. Green Bay’s defense and especially the secondary were ravaged by injury, however, and the Falcons have one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history. The Packers will need more out of their defense next season, but better health and talent are more important to that goal than a new coordinator.

Capers somehow made it nine years as Mike McCarthy’s coordinator. Although never quite terrible, Capers’ defenses annually left something to be desired. Overachieving was never on the list of potential outcomes. With McCarthy not going anywhere, the defense was the best place for the Pack to inject some new coaching blood. 67, Capers has been coaching NFL football in some capacity since 1986.

Capers was on the hot seat last year, but returned despite a bottom-of-the-league ranking. The Packers have tanked with Aaron Rodgers on IR, and were blown out Monday night without forcing a punt. Green Bay’s defensive coordinator since 2009, Capers has close ties to Mike McCarthy, so an in-season firing is unlikely. Capers may need a second-half turnaround to keep his job.