Joe DeCamillis hired as Jaguars special teams coordinator

This is DeCamillas' second stint with the Jaguars as special teams coordinator

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced the hiring of Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis, the club announced today.

DeCamillis, who is entering his 29th NFL season in 2017, re-joins the Jaguars for a second stint after previously serving with the club as the special teams coordinator from 2007-08. DeCamillis spent the past two seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos (2015-16). In 2016, DeCamillis’ unit ranked seventh in the NFL in both opponents’ punt return average (6.8) and opponents’ kickoff return average (20.2), while finishing 11th in the NFL in kick return average (22.9).

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Head coach Doug Marrone said that was DeCamillis' experience as a special teams coordinator that made him an excellent addition to the coaching staff.

"Joe is one of the most respected names in the NFL coaching community," Marrone said.  "He has achieved success at the highest level, culminating in a victory in Super Bowl 50.  He is a great leader and has a ton of experience and knowledge.  We are very fortunate to have Joe in Jacksonville and he will demand a lot of our players in all facets of our special teams."

DeCamillis’ units have accounted for 29 total kick return scores (18 PR, 11 KR) and 43 takeaways during his 24 seasons coaching special teams in the NFL.

Before returning to Denver, DeCamillis spent two seasons (2013-14) as Chicago’s assistant head coach/special teams, instructing a unit that allowed a league-low 18.3 yards per kick return while generating two TD returns (one PR, one KR) and three takeaways. In 2013, Devin Hester turned in one of the best seasons of his career under DeCamillis, posting his second-highest kickoff return average (27.6) and fourth-highest punt return average (14.2).

Prior to coaching with the Bears, DeCamillis served as special teams coordinator with Dallas from 2009-12. During that time, the Cowboys tied for the most punt return TDs (six) in the NFL, including a franchise-record three in 2010 by the rookie duo of Dez Bryant (two) and Bryan McCann (two).

As Jacksonville’s special teams coach from 2007-08, DeCamillis’ coverage unit ranked second in the NFL in average opponent field position after kickoffs (25.3-yard line) with 34 opponent returns being downed inside the 20-yard line.

DeCamillis had a 10-year run coaching special teams for the Atlanta Falcons (1997-2006)—the first seven years under Head Coach Dan Reeves, whom he worked for in his first two NFL coaching roles with the Broncos and N.Y. Giants.

He coached special teams for the Giants from 1993-96, as the club accounted for the fourth-most kick return scores (six) in the NFL during that period. David Meggett tied for second in the league with three punt return TDs during his final two years with the Giants (1993-94), ranking fourth in the NFL with his 11.3-yard punt return average in that two-year span.

DeCamillis began his NFL career in Denver in 1989 assisting with the club’s football administration for two years before serving as a defensive quality control coach from 1991-92 under Reeves.