If you’re wondering where former Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has been, he has a new job in the NFL.
Jim Bob Cooter spent five seasons on the Detroit Lions coaching staff, first as quarterbacks coach (2014-2015) then as offensive coordinator (2016-2018). He has a new job in the league now, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to hire him as passing game coordinator under new head coach Doug Pederson.
After being let go by then-Lions head coach Matt Patricia, Cooter was running backs coach for the New York Jets under Adam Gase for two seasons. He spent this past season as a consultant with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team Pederson coached through the 2020 season ironically enough.
Jaguars surely see Jim Bob Cooter as helpful to the development of Trevor Lawrence
The No. 1 thing in Jacksonville right now is getting quarterback Trevor Lawrence on track after a rough rookie season. Hiring Pederson as head coach is a huge step to making that happen, but Cooter’s history around a couple pretty good quarterbacks is a solid mark on his resume.
Cooter’s first coaching job in the NFL was as an offensive assistant with the Indianapolis Colts for three seasons (2009-2011). The Colts of course had some guy named Peyton Manning under center then. Before landing with the Lions, Cooter was on the coaching staffs of the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.
Over his time with the Lions, Cooter helped make Matthew Stafford into a better all-around quarterback. Lions fans easily criticized Cooter for his play calling as the offensive coordinator, but he won’t be in line to do that in his new job.
Cooter was replaced by Darrell Bevell as Lions’ offensive coordinator. Bevell was the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville this year, before taking over as interim head coach when Urban Meyer was dismissed. The Lions-to-Jaguars connection was duly noticed.
From Bevell to Cooter. Jags are doing a Lions time machine of some sort. Sylvester Croom on deck. https://t.co/aQMye9lflD
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) February 9, 2022
Jaguars just working their way through their Lions OC rolodex. Scott Linehan better keep his DMs open. https://t.co/EYplvDcHpr
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) February 9, 2022
Jim Bob reuniting with Marvin Jones and Jamal Agnew in Jacksonville https://t.co/1kSJxSvNtp
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) February 9, 2022
Cooter may never be an offensive coordinator again. But he’s back with an actual coaching title in the league.