Ex-Colts, Lions Coach Jim Caldwell Done Pursuing Head Coaching Jobs
The Panthers' assistant had interviewed for the head coach vacancies in Carolina and Denver.
Jim Caldwell is returning to coaching in 2023, latching on with the Panthers as a senior assistant. Caldwell, who hasn't had a coaching position in the NFL since 2019, and has not been a head coach since he was fired by the Lions in 2017, revealed that he does not have plans to pursue future head coaching opportunities, per David Newton of ESPN.
While the 68-year-old has been considered a candidate for various head coaching positions in the NFL over the past half-decade, Caldwell has not landed any such job. And it doesn't look as if he's planning to continue applying.
"Right now, the only job I'm concerned about is the job I do here," said Caldwell, via ESPN. "I'm not worried about the future or anything else. I don't plan on being a head coach from this point forward."
Caldwell has been an NFL head coach twice in his career, from 2009-11 with the Colts and from 2014-17 with the Lions. Most recently, he was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins in 2019.
After securing his latest role as a senior assistant in Carolina under Frank Reich, Caldwell indicated that becoming a head coach is no longer part of his plans.
"When I didn't get a head-coaching job, I immediately sort of changed the plan in terms of what I was looking for next," said Caldwell.
The Panthers had interviewed the North Carolina native for their own head coaching position before electing to hire Reich. Caldwell also interviewed for the Broncos' vacancy, but was overlooked in favor of Sean Payton.