Broncos expected to promote pass rush specialist Jamar Cain to defensive line coach, per source

The Broncos are expected to promote pass rush specialist Jamar Cain to the role of defensive line coach, a source told The Denver Post on Thursday.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman first reported the news.

Cain will replace Marcus Dixon, who left to become the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line coach after spending two seasons with the Broncos, working under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in 2022 and Vance Joseph in 2023.

Cain is fresh off his first season in Denver. He joined the NFL after serving as a defensive line coach and run-game coordinator for LSU in 2022. Before working for the Tigers, Cain spent two seasons as a defensive end and outside linebacker coach for Oklahoma, working closely with Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto.

He also worked as a defensive assistant for Arizona State, Fresno State and North Dakota State.

With Cain expected to become the defensive line coach, the Broncos have filled two key defensive coaching positions. Earlier this month, Denver hired former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as the team’s defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, replacing Christian Parker after he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in the same role.

“I think that he’s extremely bright,” head coach Sean Payton said of Leonhard. “He was as a player. He solved all the problems as a player. He was in Buffalo, the Jets, Baltimore, Denver. He played 10 years and I think he’s got one of these high ceilings that we see with some young coaches.”

Denver also has hired former Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. to be a senior offensive assistant and Cody Rager as the new vice president of player personnel.

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