Cardinals hire Devin Fitzsimmons as assistant special teams coach
Feb 12, 2021, 2:51 PM
Detroit Lions Assistant Special Teams Coach Devin Fitzsimmons talks with Detroit Lions Safety Charles Washington (45) on the sidelines during the NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins on October 21, 2018 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals added a new face to the coaching staff on Friday.
The team announced the hire of Devin Fitzsimmons as an assistant special teams coach to coordinator Jeff Rodgers.
He fills a vacancy left behind by Derius Swinton, who the Los Angeles Chargers hired as their special teams coordinator in January.
Fitzsimmons joins the Cardinals after spending the past two seasons as the Vanderbilt Commodores special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He helped in the development of soccer-player-turned-kicker Sarah Fuller, who became the first woman to play in a football game for a Power Five school.
Before his time at Vanderbilt, Fitzsimmons worked as an assistant special teams coach for the Detroit Lions from 2014-18. Lions kicker Matt Prater made 86.3% (132-of-153) of his field goals over that span, while punt returner Jamal Agnew earned All-Pro honors.
Fitzsimmons first got his NFL start with the Indianapolis Colts as an offensive quality control coach in 2011.
He’s also coached at Rutgers (2012), Richmond (2010), Virginia (2009), Kansas State (2007-08), Bucknell (2006) and Shaw (2005).
The Cardinals head into the offseason with a few question marks surrounding their special teams, most notably kicker Zane Gonzalez and punter Andy Lee, who are set to hit unrestricted free agency in March. Special teamers Ezekiel Turner, Trent Sherfield and Dennis Gardeck are restricted free agents this offseason.
