Defensive coach profile: VFL Kacy Rodgers

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is in the process of assembling his staff for the Vols.

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is in the process of assembling his staff for the Vols.

One defensive coaching candidate is Kacy Rodgers.

Rodgers played at Tennessee and is currently serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive line coach. Tampa Bay defeated Kansas City in Super Bowl LV.

Rodgers’ lone season coaching in the Southeastern Conference came in 2002 at Arkansas before launching his NFL coaching career.

He served as Dallas’ defensive tackles coach from 2003-04 before overseeing the Cowboys’ defensive line (2005-07). Rodgers oversaw the defensive line unit at Miami from 2008-14.

Defensive Coordinator Kacy Rodgers of the New York Jets stands on the sidelines against the Cleveland Browns during the game at MetLife Stadium on September 13, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

In 2015, Rodgers first became a defensive coordinator with the Jets. He held that position through 2018 before serving as Tampa Bay’s defensive line coach since 2019.

Rodgers is a Humboldt, Tennessee native and played for the Vols from 1988-91 as a defensive end. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1992. The former Vol played for the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League in 1994.

Rodgers launched his coaching career at UT Martin in 1994 as a defensive line coach. He would also serve in the same capacity at Middle Tennessee State from 1999-2001.

Jun 4, 2019; Tampa, FL; Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) talks with defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers during minicamp at AdventHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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