NFC South Rival Named New Tight Ends Coach for Buccaneers
The offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s new staff will have a new offensive coach as part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recent coaching hire. The Tampa Bay Bucs announced on Wednesday that they have appointed Justin Peelle, a former tight ends coach for the Atlanta Falcons, to the same position. Former Tampa Bay tight ends coach John Van Dam will continue to work for the team, albeit in a different capacity as a passing game assistant. Peelle played tight end for ten seasons in the NFL before retiring from the league. During his playing career, he was a member of the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers. He finished with 123 receptions for 1,003 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He began his coaching career in 2013 with the Philadelphia Eagles as an assistant tight ends coach. In 2015, he was hired to become the team’s tight ends coach. Perhaps the most noteworthy player he developed was Zach Ertz, with whom he spent the first eight years of his career. Ertz went on to defeat future Bucs quarterback Tom Brady in Super Bowl LIII while playing for the Eagles, and he broke the NFL record for the most receptions by a tight end in a single season with 116, which Tampa Bay noted in their press release announcing Peelle’s hiring. Peelle most recently spent the last three years as the tight ends coach for the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta’s tight ends, Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts, rank sixth in receptions (114) and ninth in touchdowns (seven) in the league under Peelle. Together, they lead the league in receiving yards (1,380). Peelle is another addition to Todd Bowles’ offensive coordinator staff in Tampa, which he is establishing under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who replaced Dave Canales as head coach of the Carolina Panthers.
Leave a Reply