Jeff FitzGerald enters his second season as the linebackers coach for the Indianapolis Colts. The 2013 campaign will also mark FitzGerald’s 20th season coaching in the NFL ranks.
In 2012, Colts linebackers accounted for three of the top five tacklers on the team, including Jerrell Freeman (203), Kavell Conner (73) and Pat Angerer (57). The linebackers also combined for 22.0 of the team’s 32.0 sacks while adding five of the six recorded forced fumbles.
FitzGerald oversaw the transition of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis from defensive end to the linebacker position. The two combined for 71 tackles, 13.0 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. Mathis earned his fifth career Pro Bowl nod after leading the Colts with 8.0 sacks. He also tied a personal best by recording a sack in eight consecutive games played dating back to the 2011 season.
Another bright spot during the 2012 campaign was the emergence of Freeman. Following a three-year career in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2009-2011), Freeman joined the Colts in his first season and led the team with a franchise-record 203 tackles (116 solo) while adding 2.0 sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. He became the first undrafted NFL player to return an interception for a touchdown in his debut since 1987.
Prior to joining Indianapolis, FitzGerald spent the previous four seasons (2008-2011) as the linebackers coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2011, the Bengals defense was among the best in the NFL, ranking seventh overall (316.3 ypg.), ninth in passing defense (211.6 ypg.), 10th against the run (104.7 ypg.) and ninth in points allowed (20.2 ppg.). FitzGerald coached linebacker Thomas Howard who led the team in tackles (120) in his first season with the club. In 2010, Cincinnati linebackers Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga finished first, second and third on the team in tackles, respectively.
FitzGerald directed the Baltimore Ravens linebackers for four seasons (2004-07). In 2006, he became only the second linebackers coach in NFL history to have four of his players named to the Pro Bowl in the same season (Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas). He also mentored linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals (2001-03) and Washington Redskins (1998-99).
FitzGerald started his NFL coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, assisting with the defensive backs and special teams for four seasons (1990-93), while also working on the development of the advanced computer and video systems in use today.
Prior to entering the NFL, FitzGerald served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati (1985) and the University of Alabama (1986-87), where he earned a master's degree in education, before being promoted to a full-time assistant at Alabama (1988-89). He also served as a linebackers coach at San Diego State from 1994-97.
FitzGerald is a native of Burbank, Calif., and played linebacker collegiately at Oregon State before transferring to Cal State-Northridge. While attending Cal State-Northridge, he worked as an assistant coach at John Burroughs High School (1981-82) and Burbank High School (1983-84).
A professionally trained race car driver, FitzGerald enjoys spending his time off racing and instructing new drivers. FitzGerald has traveled extensively with many stops throughout Europe, Australia and Asia.
Coaching Career
1985 University of Cincinnati Graduate Assistant
1986-1987 Alabama Graduate Assistant
1988-1989 Alabama Assistant Coach
1990-1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Backs/Special Teams
1994-1997 San Diego State Linebackers
1998-1999 Washington Redskins Defensive Assistant/Linebackers
2000 Arizona Cardinals Quality Control Coach
2001-2003 Arizona Cardinals Linebackers
2004-2007 Baltimore Ravens Linebackers
2008-2011 Cincinnati Bengals Linebackers
2012-2013 Indianapolis Colts Linebackers
Jeff FitzGerald enters his second season as the linebackers coach for the Indianapolis Colts. The 2013 campaign will also mark FitzGerald’s 20th season coaching in the NFL ranks.
In 2012, Colts linebackers accounted for three of the top five tacklers on the team, including Jerrell Freeman (203), Kavell Conner (73) and Pat Angerer (57). The linebackers also combined for 22.0 of the team’s 32.0 sacks while adding five of the six recorded forced fumbles.
FitzGerald oversaw the transition of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis from defensive end to the linebacker position. The two combined for 71 tackles, 13.0 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. Mathis earned his fifth career Pro Bowl nod after leading the Colts with 8.0 sacks. He also tied a personal best by recording a sack in eight consecutive games played dating back to the 2011 season.
Another bright spot during the 2012 campaign was the emergence of Freeman. Following a three-year career in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2009-2011), Freeman joined the Colts in his first season and led the team with a franchise-record 203 tackles (116 solo) while adding 2.0 sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble and two passes defensed. He became the first undrafted NFL player to return an interception for a touchdown in his debut since 1987.
Prior to joining Indianapolis, FitzGerald spent the previous four seasons (2008-2011) as the linebackers coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2011, the Bengals defense was among the best in the NFL, ranking seventh overall (316.3 ypg.), ninth in passing defense (211.6 ypg.), 10th against the run (104.7 ypg.) and ninth in points allowed (20.2 ppg.). FitzGerald coached linebacker Thomas Howard who led the team in tackles (120) in his first season with the club. In 2010, Cincinnati linebackers Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga finished first, second and third on the team in tackles, respectively.
FitzGerald directed the Baltimore Ravens linebackers for four seasons (2004-07). In 2006, he became only the second linebackers coach in NFL history to have four of his players named to the Pro Bowl in the same season (Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas). He also mentored linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals (2001-03) and Washington Redskins (1998-99).
FitzGerald started his NFL coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, assisting with the defensive backs and special teams for four seasons (1990-93), while also working on the development of the advanced computer and video systems in use today.
Prior to entering the NFL, FitzGerald served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati (1985) and the University of Alabama (1986-87), where he earned a master's degree in education, before being promoted to a full-time assistant at Alabama (1988-89). He also served as a linebackers coach at San Diego State from 1994-97.
FitzGerald is a native of Burbank, Calif., and played linebacker collegiately at Oregon State before transferring to Cal State-Northridge. While attending Cal State-Northridge, he worked as an assistant coach at John Burroughs High School (1981-82) and Burbank High School (1983-84).
A professionally trained race car driver, FitzGerald enjoys spending his time off racing and instructing new drivers. FitzGerald has traveled extensively with many stops throughout Europe, Australia and Asia.
Coaching Career
1985 University of Cincinnati Graduate Assistant
1986-1987 Alabama Graduate Assistant
1988-1989 Alabama Assistant Coach
1990-1993 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Backs/Special Teams
1994-1997 San Diego State Linebackers
1998-1999 Washington Redskins Defensive Assistant/Linebackers
2000 Arizona Cardinals Quality Control Coach
2001-2003 Arizona Cardinals Linebackers
2004-2007 Baltimore Ravens Linebackers
2008-2011 Cincinnati Bengals Linebackers
2012-2013 Indianapolis Colts Linebackers
