Jim Caldwell

Jim Caldwell made history in 1993 as the first African-American head football coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at Wake Forest University. During his eight-year tenure, he guided the Demon Deacons to their first bowl victory in 1999 at the Aloha Bowl, posting a 26-63 record. Caldwell’s extensive coaching career began as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa in 1977, following a successful collegiate playing career where he was a four-year starter at defensive back for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 1973 to 1976. In his freshman year of 1973, he established an Iowa single-season record with five blocked kicks.

Following his tenure with the Colts, Caldwell joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, initially as quarterbacks coach, and was promoted to offensive coordinator later that same year. He played a pivotal role in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII championship victory in 2013. In 2014, Caldwell took the helm as head coach of the Detroit Lions, where he led the team to two playoff appearances in four seasons. His 36-28 winning record marked the best for a non-interim Lions coach since 1972, demonstrating his consistent ability to build competitive teams.

In 2019, Caldwell served as Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach for the Miami Dolphins, and he currently holds a Senior Assistant position with the Carolina Panthers, a role he began in 2023. Beyond his on-field achievements, Jim and his wife Cheryl established the Jim and Cheryl Caldwell Foundation in 2009, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for children through digital technology. His significant contributions to football have been recognized with his induction into the Beloit High School Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2013.